The recipients of the 2024 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards have been announced, recognizing the remarkable achievements of athletes in the sailing world. Among the honorees is Marit Bouwmeester from Belgium, who has solidified her status as the most decorated female Olympic sailor in history. Joining her are the Spanish duo of Diego Botin and Florian Trittel, who achieved significant milestones in a span of less than three weeks, capturing an Olympic gold and the prestigious $2 million prize from SailGP’s Season 4 championship.
Bouwmeester secured the gold medal in the women’s dinghy event at the Paris Olympics, elevating her illustrious medal tally to a total of four, which includes two golds, a silver, and a bronze. This year marked a profound journey for her as she returned to competitive sailing following the birth of her daughter, leading her to intense preparations for the Olympic Games. It is noteworthy that she also won the World Sailor of the Year Award back in 2017, further highlighting her exceptional talent and dedication.
Simultaneously, Botin and Trittel highlighted their impressive summer achievements by clinching the Olympic gold in the men’s skiff event. This success came just weeks after they directed Spain’s SailGP Team from a tenth-place position to a stunning victory under aggressive competition, which included overcoming the three-time defending champions from Australia and the formidable New Zealand team during the Grand Final in San Francisco. Their victory in the SailGP Grand Final not only granted them a coveted championship title but also included a lucrative winner-takes-all prize totaling $2 million.
In addition to the main awards, the inaugural Young World Sailor of the Year accolades were presented to emerging talents in the sport. Max Maeder from Singapore was recognized for winning the Olympic bronze medal in the Formula Kite category, while Ewa Lewandowska from Poland achieved a remarkable feat by securing the gold medal in the mixed division of the 29er event at the Youth Sailing World Championships.