Lars Grael

Lars Schmidt Grael OMM (born 9 February 1964, in São Paulo) is a Brazilian sailor and public official. He is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the Tornado class, having won medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. He is also a world champion in the Snipe and Star classes, winning the Snipe World Championship in 1983 and the Star World Championship in 2015.

Grael competed in four Olympic Games and achieved multiple national and international titles across several sailing classes, including Tornado, Star, and Snipe. Over the course of his career, he earned podium finishes at world, continental, and regional championships, establishing himself as one of Brazil’s most successful competitive sailors across multiple decades.

In September 1998, Grael was involved in a serious motorboat accident during a sailing competition in Vitória, Espírito Santo, which resulted in the amputation of one of his legs. He later returned to competitive sailing and continued to compete at the highest international level following his recovery.

Beyond competition, Grael has been active in public service and social initiatives related to sport. He served in appointed roles in Brazilian public administration focused on sports policy at both the federal and state levels. He is also a co-founder of Projeto Grael, a Brazilian non-profit organization that promotes social inclusion through sailing and nautical education.

In September 1998, Grael was involved in a serious motorboat accident during a sailing competition in Vitória, Espírito Santo. A motorboat entered the race area and collided with his boat, resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. He later returned to competitive sailing following his recovery.

Lars Grael is a co-founder of Projeto Grael, a Brazilian non-profit organization established in 1998 in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, together with his brother Torben Grael and sailor Marcelo Ferreira. The organization focuses on social inclusion through sailing and nautical activities, offering free sports, educational, and vocational programs to children and young people from economically vulnerable communities.

Projeto Grael operates primarily from Charitas Beach and provides instruction in sailing, swimming, and canoeing, as well as workshops related to boat maintenance and environmental education. Grael has also participated in events organized in partnership with international institutions, including a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime seminar on sport and social inclusion in Brazil.

Lars Grael has served in appointed public administration roles related to sports policy in Brazil. He served as "National Secretary of Sports" at the federal level from 2001 to 2002.