My name is Leo Boucher, I’m a sailor from Annapolis, Maryland. Please help me continue competing at the highest level and reach my goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics Games in Los Angeles .
My journey in competitive sailing began at West River Sailing Club, where I grew up racing Optimists alongside my sister. I later transitioned to the Laser Radial (now ILCA 6), training at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. As a young sailor, I was selected for U.S. Sailing's Olympic Development Team and competed in two Radial Youth World Championships. These early experiences introduced me to international competition and established the foundation for my pursuit of excellence in the sport.
At 18, I transitioned to the ILCA 7, a physically demanding Olympic class that required a more comprehensive approach to athletic development. Early in this transition, I had the opportunity to meet 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tom Burton, whose perspective reinforced the importance of physical preparation, technical discipline, and consistency. In 2020, I competed at the Laser World Championship in Melbourne, Australia. In the years that followed, I captured back-to-back North American titles and qualified for the 2021 Youth Pan-American Games, further developing my experience on the international stage.
I graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland, where I captained the varsity sailing team and earned two Inter-Collegiate Singlehanded National Championship titles. I was also recognized as a two-time Collegiate Sailing All-American Honorable Mention. My collegiate experience extended beyond competition, strengthening my leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to perform in demanding environments. Through my academic studies in economics, I developed a deeper appreciation for the relationship between opportunity, resources, and long-term development.
As an African American athlete pursuing the Olympic Games, I view my ambitions as extending beyond individual achievement. Sailing has historically presented significant financial and cultural barriers to entry, limiting access for many talented young people. I believe that expanding access to the sport is both an opportunity and a responsibility. My education in economics has reinforced the idea that meaningful wealth is measured not only by individual accomplishment, but also by the opportunities one creates for others.
Following my Olympic campaign, I intend to leverage the experience, relationships, and platform developed through international competition to help reduce financial barriers in sailing. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to a more accessible and representative sport while inspiring the next generation of sailors to pursue opportunities that may otherwise seem beyond their reach.
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