Lars Grael

Lars Schmidt Grael (born 9 February 1964, in São Paulo) is a Brazilian sailor and public official. He is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the Tornado class, having won medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He is also a world champion in the Snipe and Star classes, winning the Snipe World Championship in 1983 and the Star World Championship in 2015.

Grael competed in four Olympic Games and achieved multiple national and international titles across several sailing classes, including Tornado, Star, and Snipe. Over the course of his career, he earned podium finishes at world, continental, and regional championships, establishing himself as one of Brazil’s most successful competitive sailors across multiple decades.

In September 1998, Grael was involved in a serious motorboat accident during a sailing competition in Vitória, Espírito Santo, which resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. He later returned to competitive sailing and continued to compete at the highest international level following his recovery.

Beyond competition, Grael has been active in public service and social initiatives related to sport. He served in appointed roles in Brazilian public administration focused on sports policy at both the federal and state levels. He is also a co-founder of Projeto Grael, a Brazilian non-profit organization that promotes social inclusion through sailing and nautical education.

Accident

In September 1998, Grael was involved in a serious motorboat accident during a sailing competition in Vitória, Espírito Santo. A motorboat entered the race area and collided with his boat, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. He later returned to competitive sailing following his recovery. Philanthropy and social initiatives

Lars Grael is a co-founder of Projeto Grael, a Brazilian non-profit organization established in 1998 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, together with his brother Torben Grael and sailor Marcelo Ferreira. The organization focuses on social inclusion through sailing and nautical activities, offering free sports, educational, and vocational programs to children and young people from economically vulnerable communities.

Public service and administration

Lars Grael has served in appointed public administration roles related to sports policy in Brazil. He served as "National Secretary of Sports" at the federal level from 2001 to 2002.

He later served as "Secretary of Youth, Sports and Leisure" for the State of São Paulo from 2003 to 2006, where his responsibilities included oversight of state-level sports and youth programs.

In 1999, Grael was awarded the Order of Military Merit by the Brazilian government, as published in the "Diário Oficial da União". He has also received the Medal of Military Sports Merit, a distinct decoration awarded by Brazil’s Ministry of Defence in recognition of contributions to military sport.

Achievements

Across his competitive sailing career, Grael competed in four Olympic Games, reaching the medal race in each appearance and earning two bronze medals in the Tornado class. At the world championship level, he achieved multiple podium finishes across several classes, including a world title in the Star class and a world title in the Snipe class, along with additional medals in Star, Ocean, 12 Metre, and 6 Metre competition. Beyond world and Olympic events, Grael recorded extensive success at the continental level, winning multiple South American championships in both the Star and Tornado classes, as well as podium finishes at European, North American, Western Hemisphere, and Southern Hemisphere championships.

Olympic Games Grael represented Brazil in four editions of the Olympic Games between 1984 and 1996, competing exclusively in the Tornado class. Across these appearances, he reached the medal race in each Olympic campaign and earned two bronze medals, first at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and again at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. His Olympic career spanned more than a decade and included partnerships with multiple crew members.

Result Event Crew Venue Class 7th 1984 Summer Olympics Clinio Freitas Los Angeles, United States Tornado 3rd 1988 Summer Olympics Clinio Freitas Seoul, South Korea Tornado 8th 1992 Summer Olympics Clinio Freitas Barcelona, Spain Tornado 3rd 1996 Summer Olympics Henrique Pellicano Atlanta, United States Tornado

World Championships At the world championship level, Grael achieved podium finishes across multiple sailing classes over several decades. He won world titles in both the Snipe and Star classes, claiming the Snipe World Championship in 1983 and the Star World Championship in 2015. In addition to his world titles, he recorded several podium finishes in the Star class and earned medals in Ocean, 12 Metre, and 6 Metre competition, reflecting sustained competitiveness across different boat types and eras.

Year Event Venue Result Crew / Boat Class Ref 1981 Snipe World Championship Long Beach, United States 3rd Torben Grael Snipe 1983 Snipe World Championship Porto, Portugal 1st Torben Grael Snipe 2010 Star World Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4th Ronald Seifert Star 2015 Star World Championship Buenos Aires, Argentina 1st Samuel Gonçalves Star 2016 Star World Championship Miami, United States 4th Samuel Gonçalves Star 2017 Star World Championship Troense, Denmark 2nd Samuel Gonçalves Star 2017 6 Metre World Championship Vancouver, Canada 3rd KC19 - SASKIA 6 Metre 2019 Star Vintage Gold Cup Gull Lake, United States 2nd Arnis Baltins Star 2022 Star Vintage Gold Cup Gull Lake, United States 1st Isao Toyama Star 2017 European Championship Sanremo, Italy 4th Star 2016 European Championship Gaeta, Italy 4th Star 2008 European Championship Balaton, Hungary 4th Star 1996 European Championship Attersee, Austria 4th Tornado

North American Championships

Year Event Venue Result Crew Class Ref 2011 North American Championship Lido, United States 2nd Star 2006 North American Championship Newport, United States 2nd 12 Metre 2010 North American Championship Los Angeles, United States 5th Star 2007 North American Championship Vancouver, Canada 7th Star

South American Championships

Year Event Venue Result Crew Class Ref 2023 South American Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1st Mauricio Bueno Star 2016 South American Championship Brasília, Brazil 1st Samuel Gonçalves Star 2014 South American Championship Ilhabela, Brazil 1st Samuel Gonçalves Star 2011 South American Championship Mar del Plata, Argentina 1st Ronald Seifert Star 2008 South American Championship Angra dos Reis, Brazil 1st Marcelo Jordan Star 2005 South American Championship Buenos Aires, Argentina 1st Marco Lagoa Star 1998 South American Championship Búzios, Brazil 1st Tornado 1995 South American Championship Búzios, Brazil 1st Tornado 1991 South American Championship Araruama, Brazil 1st Tornado 1989 South American Championship Niterói, Brazil 1st Tornado 2018 South American Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2nd Samuel Gonçalves Star 2012 South American Championship Angra dos Reis, Brazil 2nd Samuel Gonçalves Star 1995 South American Championship Rapel, Chile 2nd J/24 1994 South American Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2nd Soling 1985 South American Championship Florianópolis, Brazil 2nd Ocean 1985 South American Championship Búzios, Brazil 2nd Tornado 2015 South American Championship Buenos Aires, Argentina 3rd Samuel Gonçalves Star 1999 South American Championship Salvador, Brazil 3rd Ocean

Western Hemisphere Championships

Year Event Venue Result Crew Class Ref 2018 Western Hemisphere Championship Miami, United States 1st Star 2014 Western Hemisphere Championship Sunapee, United States 1st Star 2015 Western Hemisphere Championship Miami, United States 2nd Star

Southern Hemisphere Championships

Year Event Venue Result Crew Class Ref 2011 Southern Hemisphere Championship Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2nd Star