Q&A with Annapolis Olympian Joe Morris

There is nothing else like the Olympics. Every corner of the world sends their most dedicated athletes, each of whom has worked tirelessly to perfect a skill they are passionate about. Most of us can only watch the Olympic Games on TV and imagine that experience. 

Joe Morris, on the other hand, an Annapolis native and Severn School graduate (‘08), lived that experience at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. He and Thomas Barrows qualified in the Men’s 49er, a two-person skiff-type high-performance sailing event. We chatted with Morris about his experience in Rio and his outlook on this year’s Paris Olympics. Here is his insider’s view: 

RIO 2016

You competed in the Men’s 49er event. Can you describe your event? ‍

Sure, the 49er is the type of boat, it’s the Men’s Doublehanded High Performance Class, a very athletic boat. I would describe it more as two-person windsurfing. The event is a really exciting one to watch; people always say it’s like Formula 1 on water.

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‍What is living in the Olympic Village like? Is it different for sailors than other athletes, since sailors are often competing in locations that are farther afield?

Sailing is one of the most common sports to be separated from the main Olympic city, because it’s so dependent on having a good venue. We were really lucky and got to stay in the village. It was about an hour and half trip every day back and forth, but it was totally worth it to stay in the village. 

The Village, going to the Olympics, it’s a crazy thing because every person there, whether they're Michael Phelps, in the most watched sport, or someone that does a really obscure sport, everyone is there to win a medal. But something like only 2% come away with a medal. So it’s a weird mix of human emotions all around you. It’s everything wrapped into one: your proudest moment, your most disappointing moments, and you’re having that experience all around you while still trying to focus on your event. We spent 30 days in the village. I honestly don’t remember a lot of the day to day, because you're so focused, your mind goes blank. 

Some athletes have their event start and finish the day after opening ceremonies. And as more time goes on, more and more athletes have finished their events, and it becomes a less stressed environment. By the end, it’s one big party. It’s pretty awesome to see the most disciplined people completely let loose. 

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Did you attend the Opening Ceremony?

Yes, it was really amazing.The pride you get from walking into the Opening Ceremony and being next to the greatest athletes under the American flag; it still gives me goosebumps. 

I was able to talk to Michael Phelps for a while and ended up in the front with him. That was really cool, a little Maryland pride moment. 

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Did you get time to see and experience the city of Rio?

Another unique thing about sailing is that it’s important to understand the wind patterns and the sea state that you're going to sail in. So after we won trials, we got down to Rio as fast as we could. We spent a few months there. That was a really special time because we got to enjoy Rio. It’s really the land of haves and have nots, but the people are just the nicest, happiest, most helpful people you can imagine. 

During the Olympics, it was my teammate’s second games, and it was my first. What we decided with our coach is to make sure we took time off to actually be at the Olympics. To watch Simone Biles obliterate the gymnastics events. To go watch the greatest ping pong player. I’m glad we took the time to do that, because not everyone does.

Our coach for the trials and Olympics is Evan Aras, a former classmate of mine at Severn and fellow Annapolitan. He was like a third member of our team, helping to manage the boat off the water and our team on the water. 

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Were you nervous leading up to your event? How did you deal with that?

Honestly, I didn’t feel nervous at all and I don’t think my teammate did either. We weren't medal favorites, but if we were, I don’t think that would have changed anything. We knew we had done everything possible and given every possible ounce of energy. Whether we finished in the medals or in last place, we were as prepared as we could be, given that we were underdogs to even win the trials. 

I dreamed about competing in the Olympics since I was 8 years old. And the night before the Olympic trials, I had the greatest sleep of my life. And it was because I felt a confidence that there was nothing else we could possibly do to be prepared. 

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What do you think people don’t realize about competing in the Olympics?

You know, the Olympics are very much like an iceberg, you only see the top 1 or 2% of these athletes’ careers. The time I remember most is what came before the Olympics. Like the four or five years of living out of the country for training, sleeping in the back of cars, not having income, not being able to sustain relationships because you're dedicated to this one goal, that’s the real, the true part of the Olympics that people don’t see. 

The Olympic credo is something like, it’s not about the triumph but the struggle. I think that’s the part that is probably impossible to encapsulate. It’s really all the years of dedication that people give to a goal and that’s the really amazing part. 

PARIS PREVIEW

What are conditions like at the Marseilles Marina where the sailing events will be held? 

Marseilles will be an awesome venue. While I was training for Rio, the world championship was held in Marseilles. It’s a great venue but it’s definitely one that can be very challenging in terms of how extreme the conditions can be. I would liken it to San Francisco; it can be sunny and not much wind one day, with clouds and winds and big waves the next day; it’s not a day sailor's dream. But I think that's what all the athletes want. I think it will be some really exciting racing. It’s some of the best sailing you can do in the Mediterranean and in Europe. 

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Any insight on Team USA Sailing athletes this year? 

Unfortunately, the US didn’t qualify for the event in 2020, but it did qualify for Paris this year. The two team members who qualified [for the Men’s 49er] are Ian Barrows and Hans Henken. Ian is the younger brother of my Rio teammate and Hans was one of our training partners for Rio. 

During my time after “retiring” as an athlete, I’ve worked with the US Sailing team and I was the representative to the IOC. The US is still trying to rebuild around a program that struggled in the last few quadrennials. The Olympics are the Olympics, and every dog has its day. I think we could definitely have a few surprises. I think we have a really good chance with Women’s Kiting. 

I have a good feeling about Ian and Hans having a surprise shot at a medal. I coached Ian, and as the pressure turns up, he gets better and better. I think that’s one thing that differentiates people who compete at the Olympics and people who medal. 

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Any last thoughts on your experience? 

It was an honor for me to represent the US, but also Maryland and Annapolis. My time in the Olympics was really amazing and something I’ll never forget.