Fingernails for Pitons

This Olympian and world champion could look back at the medals missed, but it’s better to remember the superhuman effort required to compete for them in the first place.

- KIMBALL LIVINGSTON

Paige Railey has survived failure. She's even survived success. But she might not accept those words. Defeats? Oh yeah. Wins? Big wins. The latest chapter in her sailing career strikes a different note, a new direction (almost). And she has a message that resonates. To appreciate it, however, means taking a deeper dive into her life since she joined the US Sailing Team 17 years ago, hitting the highest highs and lowest lows, and achieving everything there is to achieve in a Laser Radial except an Olympic medal. Think about it: She was a young world champion, World Sailor of the Year, Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, twice she went to the Games, twice she came away empty-handed. And then...

Setting her hopes for a third medal shot at the 2020 US trials while posting a selfie on social media showing herself in a hospital bed, Railey had this to say: Olympian or sick? Who says you can’t be both? have an immune system that struggles to fight infection deficiency). It attacks my vascular system autoimmune). I'm weak. can’t do one pullup or even squat my body weight. My lungs have been through hell. m up for a CT scan and a bronchoscopy, and have only months to get it together for the next Olympic trials event. To hell with being secretive about my health.”

If that was the only time Railey had been down, this wouldn’t be a story. Refusing to give in has been her story, over and again. She has been an inspiration, especially to the young. Once upon a time, Railey was speaking to a group of teenage sailors when the coach suggested that maybe the kids had questions: How about you, Zoe? What would you like to ask Paige?”

Silence.

“Surely you have something on your mind.”

Awkward silence.

When asked later what that was about, Zoe replied: I was too awestruck.”