At just 20 years old, Eve McMahon has already established herself as one of Ireland’s brightest Olympic prospects. Fresh from winning gold at a World Cup regatta in Los Angeles, staged on the very waters that will host sailing at the 2028 Games, the Howth Yacht Club sailor is balancing her rapid rise on the water with the demands of a final-year business degree at UCD.
She sat down with us during the week as part of an Olymoic Federation of Ireland media day.
Winning in LA – On Olympic Waters
“It was really exciting,” McMahon said of her LA victory. “It’s a World Cup event, a Grand Slam in sailing, but for us it’s also a test run for the Games.”
“I loved the conditions, and I was fast in them. We were training with the British and American teams, some really strong girls, and the racing was so tight. To come away with a gold medal was really special.”
The victory was made sweeter by the fact that sailing in Los Angeles will take place in the heart of the Olympic city, a rare treat for a sport often held at satellite venues.
“In Paris, we were in Marseille, which was nice in its own way because you escaped the chaos, but LA will be different.”
“To be part of Team Ireland on site will be really special. That’s the goal, to qualify and take it from there.”
A Family Affair
McMahon’s brother is also chasing Olympic qualification, and the possibility of two siblings competing for Ireland in Los Angeles is a tantalising prospect.
“He got his personal best at the Europeans recently. He’s balancing engineering with sailing, which hasn’t been easy, but it’s really exciting to see him performing.”
“We’re very close, so even if one of us has a tough day, we balance each other out.”
Life in Los Angeles – A Home Away from Home
Preparation for LA has been eased by the support of the Irish diaspora.
“We had a host family who made everything so different. It felt like home from the start, which was a big contrast to other teams staying on campuses.”
“They included us in everything, even their 4th of July celebrations. It makes a massive difference when people believe in you.”
The Challenge of Kelp in Los Angeles
While McMahon is effusive about the “glamour conditions” that sailors can expect in Los Angeles – steady sea breezes, a mix of light and heavy winds in a single day, and wide-open tactical opportunities – there is also one very unusual challenge to contend with, that of kelp.
Earlier this year, the global SailGP circuit staged an event at the same venue, and the high-tech foiling catamarans were repeatedly disrupted by the thick seaweed drifting through the course.
“They had a lot of trouble,” McMahon explained. “It’s not normal seaweed – it’s kelp, and it’s really dense. If you hit a clump at speed it’s like hitting a rock.”
For SailGP boats flying metres above the water on foils, the impact was catastrophic, with crews forced to abandon manoeuvres or retire mid-race.
For McMahon’s Laser-class dinghy, the risk is different but still significant.
“Our boats are slower, so we can usually spot it and avoid it, but it can still shape your tactics. On the start line, for example, if there’s a big bunch of kelp, you don’t want to be anywhere near it. If you get caught, it ruins your lane and your race plan.”
The kelp creates a strategic dimension that sailors will need to incorporate into their pre-race preparation. Unlike Marseille, where land effects and cliffs bent the winds, Los Angeles presents an obstacle that moves.
“It’s risk versus reward,” McMahon noted. “You could have the best start in the world, but if you hit kelp, it’s gone. So you need to be brave, but smart.”
Add to that the backdrop of oil rigs and heavy marine traffic in the bay, and Los Angeles promises to provide not just spectacular sailing conditions, but also a course where adaptability and decision-making will prove every bit as important as speed.
Pressure, Risk and Reward
With a World Cup gold already secured, expectations for McMahon are rising. But she insists she thrives under pressure.
“For Paris, the biggest pressure was from myself, and I like it that way. For LA, qualifying and medalling is the goal. You learn from mistakes, and I know if I have the right people behind me, I can reach for the stars.”
Her fearless approach on the water is both her strength and her risk.
“I almost don’t have any fears, which sometimes brings massive consequences. But it’s easier to hold yourself back than to force yourself forward. You can’t be afraid of lining up against the best in the world.”
Studying While Sailing
McMahon is balancing elite sport with full-time study. She is in the final year of a Commerce International degree at UCD, majoring in business and minoring in Spanish.
“I always wanted to get a degree alongside sailing. High performance sport is cutthroat, so I wanted another element to my career.”
Her Erasmus year in Valencia turned into a near-constant training camp, which was disrupted by floods but provided invaluable experience. By coincidence, the 2026 World Championships originally scheduled for Valencia have since been moved to Dún Laoghaire.”
McMahon is also part of UCD’s Ad Astra Elite Athlete programme, which she credits as a huge support.
“It’s amazing to have mentors and a community of athletes going through the same challenges. Walking into that room, you know you’re not alone.”
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