Island Games sailor wins gold after cancer diagnosis

Arthur is smiling at the camera. He has light blue reflective sunglasses on and wears a black waterproof vest with a light grey long sleeved wetsuit. The background is slightly blurred but the sail of a Team GBR yacht can be seen.Image source, Arthur Farley
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Arthur Farley said it felt great to get the first gold for the Isle of Wight the games

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A sailor who spent almost a year away from the water while receiving treatment for chronic leukaemia has made a winning return to the sport.

Arthur Farley, who grew up on the Isle of Wight, is competing at the 2025 International Island Games in Orkney.

The 21-year-old won the first gold medal for the team on day five.

He said competing in the Island Games is a "great stepping stone" on his way to the Olympics.

Farley added it had been a "good week so far" after winning all his races, and that it had been "great to represent the island".

The win comes after he had to put his successful sailing career on hold because of a blood cancer diagnosis.

A smiling Arthur wearing light blue reflective sunglasses, a black waterproof vest with a white long sleeved wetsuit. He has placed his left arm on a boat.
Image caption,

Farley said it had been "a great experience to see all the other sports"

There are 99 athletes from the Isle of Wight competing at the games.

Talking to BBC Radio Solent, he explained: "I started sailing on the island, near where I live, at the Royal Victoria when I was about 10 and then moved through all the ranks as you do in any sport.

"Eventually I moved up to Team GB and the Olympic team, which is where I am now and looking towards going to the Olympics - so this is a great stepping stone to do that."

Farley said he felt "lucky" to have had support from his parents and sponsors to reach the level of sailing he's now at.

He said: "When you rise through the ranks there's a period of time where you need support - like sponsors or family - luckily I had all of that, so that's very important to get anywhere near winning medals.

"It's been great to represent the island - I'm used to racing for myself, so it's been great experience to see all the other sport. I'm really proud of the team."

The island team has won five other gold medals - two in golf, for the ladies' team event and for Sophie Beardsall for ladies individual, and two others in sailing, for Oliver Mayo and the sailing team event, as well as one for swimmer George Hayward in the men's 100m backstroke.

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