First American male to compete in Formula Kite at the Olympic Games.
Discover the story
Paris 2024 · Marseille, France
Growing up on the Hudson River in Mount Kisco, New York, Markus Edegran took his first sailing lesson at eight years old. Two decades later — after the Naval Academy, a Red Bull Youth America's Cup campaign, and the World Match Racing Tour — he found his discipline: the fastest, most explosive event in Olympic sailing history.
Born to a Swedish father and South Korean mother, Markus progressed from Optimist dinghies through 420s, 49ers, an AC45 at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, and helmed M32s on the World Match Racing Tour before committing to Formula Kite in 2019.
Five years later, he stood on the start line in Marseille — the first American man ever to race the discipline at an Olympic Games.
The fastest event in Olympic sailing history
Formula Kite · Paris 2024
Anything is possible
— Markus Edegran
The Road
Markus committed to Formula Kite in 2019 with a single goal: Paris 2024. He won the US Olympic Trials wire-to-wire in January 2024, then clinched Team USA's country quota at the Last Chance Regatta in Hyères on April 25. Five years of work, one race finish.
The Games
Competing in Formula Kite's historic Olympic debut, Markus raced seven consecutive heats on the Mediterranean. Back-to-back top-3 finishes in the final two races of the Open Series punched his ticket to the Medal Series — one of only ten men in the world to advance.
The Result
Markus finished 9th at Paris 2024 — the first and only American man ever to race Formula Kite at the Games. His semifinal opponent, Valentin Bontus of Austria, went on to claim the gold medal. The journey didn't end in Marseille. It started there.
Ranked #4 globally in Formula Kite entering Paris 2024
Paris 2024 — Formula Kite semifinalist, 9th in the world
Peak velocity reached on the hydrofoil board above the water
First American male Olympian in Formula Kite history
"You gotta love the sport you do. Stick to it — and anything is possible."
