Emergency at sea! SAILOR ERICA'S BRAVE RETURN

After a painful boating accident, the yachtie can't wait to get back on the water and shine

- Rebekah Hebenton

To be the best of the best in any sport requires mammoth amounts of grit and determination - but for Kiwi sailor Erica Dawson, it has meant overcoming a serious injury to chase her dreams.

She has been going head to head against world-class sailors in the SailGP Championship, but just a year ago, a shock accident almost crushed her chances of success.

“We were at a training camp in Australia, and I fell off the boat and hit the rudder and broke my fibula,” says Erica, explaining how the trapeze wire she was hooked into snapped as they travelled close to 20 knots. "It was a scary time because it was uncertain whether or not I'd be able to compete."

Just five weeks out from competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, the 27-year-old refused to let the broken bone stand in her way.

“I never thought it was over, that it was never going to happen for me," she says. After an intense treatment plan with rehab and physio, within weeks Erica was soon back on the water.

“It was an interesting experience being wheeled through the airport on my 5 way to the Olympic Games," she laughs.

Though she, along with sailing partner Micah Wilkinson, didn't get the result they wanted - they came 12th in the mixed Nacra competition – Erica says it is still one of her proudest sporting moments. “I was so grateful that I got there. It definitely made it special.”