Join us for a lively interview with the engaging and competitive Maggie Shea! Will the Tokyo Olympics be held? Breaking news puts the event on precarious swells.

Maggie Shea grew up sailing on Lake Michigan with her family on her Grampa John Nedeau’s Windancer. While sailing with her family, cousins and grandparents, she fell in love with being on the water and competing. Maggie joined Chicago Yacht Club’s junior sailing program, where she raced Laser Radials and 420’s. She enjoyed a competitive high school sailing career, and got a taste of the international sailing circuit in her senior year while she geared up for the Laser Radial 2008 Olympic Trials. As her first time participating in the Olympic Trials, 2008 was chance to build experience and to get a taste of the best competition in the country. 

In 2016, Maggie crewed for Sally Barkow on Team Magenta 32, the first-ever all-women’s team to compete on the World Match Racing Tour. She was onboard when the team finished 3rd at the North American Championships in 2017. In 2017, Maggie was named as a finalist nominee for the US Sailing’s 2017 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.  

Maggie has been racing the 49erFX since 2013 with various teammates, but Steph and Maggie have been on the 49erFX campaign trail together since fall of 2016. Their 49erFX highlights include 5th at the 2018 European Championships, 3rd at the World Cup Series Genoa and 3rd at the 2020 49erFX World Championship.

Steph and Maggie won the US Olympic Trials in February 2020, and they look forward to competing in Tokyo 2020 Olympics held the summer of 2021.