Andrew Simpson remembered by Iain Percy

http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/dec/15/andrew-simpson-obituary-iain-percy

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Andrew [who died after his yacht capsized] was my closest friend for more than 25 years, a guiding light to myself and many friends and colleagues, who never shouted about his greatness but shared it with many.

We first met in 1983, aged seven, at the under-16 national championships. As the youngest competitors, we were allowed to spend the day ashore. We discovered each other in the Lego pit, where we spent the day constructing miniature boats that we raced along the promenade. As adults, we designed many a boat together but our working partnership probably didn't change much during a quarter of a century.

We woke up on the morning of our final race at the Beijing Olympics to driving rain and strong winds, something we hadn't experienced for three months. I met Andrew at breakfast as usual. With a smile, and referring to our main rivals for the gold, he announced: "It doesn't rain much in Brazil", then after a long pause: "Let's do this." We had succeeded in getting there after many setbacks through an extraordinary effort – so many evenings returning in the dark after seven brutal hours on the water. So when we stood together on the podium with our incredible cocktail of feelings, I know the strongest emotion for us both was happiness for the friend we stood beside.

We were close through childhood and university but our friendship and sailing partnership was cemented after the 2000 Olympic trials. On the night of the last race of the trials, we were having our normal post-event beer and Andrew came out with an extraordinarily generous line. Instead of concentrating on the possibility of not qualifying, he said: "What do you need me to do over the next 12 months to help, because we are going to win you a gold medal?"

The following month, we travelled to Sydney, where we set ourselves up in a house near a local sailing club, and for the next year we spent every waking hour on the water, in the gym or – it is fair to say – local bars.

It turned out, after many an inquiry as to what Andrew was doing working all night during training camps, that over the years he had been coach and training partner to others within the British Olympic team. It was to Andrew that sailors turned for advice. It was in teams that he thrived. As an individual, his modesty almost made him shy about his talents; in a team, the intensity of his efforts were boundless. He would not tolerate idleness or unnecessary politics. If something needed to be said, it was Andrew who told people straight. When his (often strong) words were over, his team-mates were left simultaneously aware of their errors, motivated to positively respond and still full of love for the big man.

Maybe his greatest achievement was to maintain his passion for sailing and winning while never losing sight of sport's place in his own life. This spring, we spent a day together walking the streets of San Francisco. It was a rare day off from training and, as we explored the city, the stops soon switched from coffee shops to pubs, where we talked about life and family.

Andrew was the most loved and loving husband I have ever met. His and Leah's happiness is an example to all of us. When they met, he changed ever so slightly. Always the kindest man, he became more confident and strong; he knew he had won his most important race. Andrew's life became even more complete with the arrival of his sons, Freddie and Hamish.He pulled off what so many find impossible to achieve by being hugely involved in family life while competing at the highest level in a sport.

We teased and respected him for his devotion to his family; he was never ashamed to whisper sweet nothings to Leah over the phone while sitting at the bar with the lads. Nor were we expected to do anything after the debrief but watch videos and photos of his boys eating sand or going down some slide.

While Andrew will be known as an Olympic hero, his many friends will continue to tell the world, and his amazing young sons, that he was so much more – the most generous, honest and giving champion.

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