Chasing the Olympic Dream: The Best Friends Going for Gold

Most twenty-year-olds are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives.

Darcy Robbins and Eva Attwood already know.

The Northern Beaches sailors are currently campaigning in the 49er FX class, one of the fastest and most physically demanding Olympic sailing classes in the world, with their eyes firmly set on Brisbane 2032.

What makes their story even more remarkable is that just a few years ago, the pair were racing against each other as teenagers at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Newport. Now, they are training side by side almost every day as teammates, best friends and members of Australia’s National Futures Squad.

For Darcy, sailing has always been part of life.

“I began sailing at Drummoyne Sailing Club when I was four,” she says.

“My dad and I sailed together until I was big enough to sail alone.”

After moving to Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Darcy met Eva, with both girls progressing through the junior sailing ranks together.

“We were always racing against each other,” Darcy laughs.

“Then during Year 12 both of our sailing partners moved on to other boats and over the last few years we became really close.”

Eventually, Darcy made the call that would shape the next chapter of both their lives.

“In August last year I asked Eva to sail officially with me and we’ve been training together ever since.”

Eva’s journey into sailing began far from the ocean on the Hume Weir near Albury Wodonga, where she first joined the Tackers sailing program at age seven.

From there, she quickly became hooked.

After years competing in Optimists and later 29ers, Eva moved into another Olympic class before realising she missed the adrenaline of skiff sailing.

“When Darcy asked me to sail with her, I jumped at the opportunity immediately,” she says.

These days, life for the duo is a careful balancing act between elite sport, study, work and relentless training schedules.

Both train on the water five times a week, with additional gym and cardio sessions layered around work and university commitments.

Darcy works multiple jobs including bartending and detailing racing yachts at RPAYC, while also studying project management online through TAFE.

Eva is currently completing a Mechanical Engineering degree at UTS while working as a swim teacher and coach.

It is a demanding lifestyle but one they embrace wholeheartedly.

In July, the pair will head overseas together for the first time as an official FX team, competing at the Open European Championships in Germany before travelling to the Netherlands for the Under 23 World Championships.

The campaign marks a major step forward in their Olympic journey.

“It’s extremely exciting but also really nerve wracking,” Darcy says.

“There’s a lot to organise here and I’m sure there will be even more once we arrive.”

The experience will also expose them to a level of international competition rarely available in Australia.

“There’s not much of a fleet here compared to Europe,” Eva explains.

“Racing overseas teaches you lessons that you simply can’t replicate at home.”

Despite the growing momentum behind their campaign, both girls remain refreshingly grounded.

Asked about the biggest challenges so far, they are less focused on setbacks and more focused on perspective.

“Like any athlete, it’s about balancing life and appreciating the challenges because they help you grow,” they say.

Being selected in the National Futures Squad has also been a surreal moment, particularly given the pair once stood on the sidelines watching older sailors they now train alongside.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Darcy says.

“We used to watch the girls in this squad training and now we’re here ourselves.”

The program provides access to elite level coaching, physiotherapists, sports psychologists, nutritionists and training facilities, support both sailors say has been invaluable.

Off the water, they are close friends. On the water, things become more direct.

“We’re still navigating the balance between friendship and professionalism,” Eva says.

“When we communicate during racing it can sound blunt, but we’re creating a really clear dialogue where there’s no fluff in crucial situations.”

Then there’s the Olympics.

While Brisbane 2032 may sound distant to most people, for Darcy and Eva it already feels close.

“We don’t really think of it as six years away,” Darcy says.

“It feels more like six years soon.”

Rather than obsessing over the end goal, the pair focus on consistency, accountability and the small daily improvements that build long term success.

“We have incredible role models ahead of us and seeing them enjoy the process makes the Olympics feel achievable.”

Like many emerging athletes, however, funding remains one of the biggest hurdles.

Their upcoming European campaign alone is expected to cost around $25,000, covering flights, accommodation, equipment hire, sails and food.

So far, they have funded almost all of it themselves through part time work.

“Any support would have a direct impact,” Eva says.

But beyond financial support, the pair are passionate about creating greater visibility for girls in sport and encouraging younger athletes to pursue ambitious goals.

“We want people to know there’s space for girls to dream big in sport,” they say.

For locals wanting to support the campaign, Darcy and Eva are currently seeking sponsorships, donations and community backing through their Australian Sports Foundation page, @robbinsattwood_fx.

Even something as simple as following along online helps.

And despite the pressure, the workload and the uncertainty that comes with elite sport, both girls say there is nowhere else they would rather be.

“Sailing is unique because once you’re out there, it’s just you, the boat and the ocean,” Darcy says.

“There’s something really calming about that.”

Then she laughs before adding the best description she’s ever heard of the sport.

“Someone once said sailing is like playing chess while abseiling and having buckets of water thrown in your face.”

For Darcy and Eva, though, that chaos is exactly what they love most.