Andrey Quinteno


Andrey Quinteno’s sailing career started at the age of nine. He grew up in the small town of Guatavita on the banks of Tominé Lake reservoir, northwest of Bogotá, Columbia. Several sailing and recreational clubs are situated around the reservoir, and his ‘world soon started to revolve around sailing, dinghies and racing’. By 2002, Quinteno decided that ‘sailing was his life’s path’, and in 2004 set out on a training programme in a Laser, with a view to qualifying for the Olympic Games. His idols include – sailing legends Ian Percy, Torben Grael, Robert Scheidt and Ed Baird. Champion sailor Robert Scheidt is Quinteno’s best friend and training partner. Quinteno is also President of the Laser Association of Columbia. He trains six hours per day, but does not have a coach! Sailing is a relatively new sport in Columbia and there is limited funding for coaching or to participate at an international level in the competitive Laser class. He hopes to let young sailors back home know that ‘dreams may be realised.