Olympic champions Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark’s successful year continued after they were named the female World Sailors of the Year, in Barcelona.
The duo won 470 women’s gold at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, upgrading the silver they won four years previously at London 2012.
They were up against Dutch Laser Radial winner Marit Bouwmeester, RS:X windsurfing gold medallist Charline Picon, Nacra 17 gold medal-winning crew Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG) and 49erFX Olympic Champions Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) for the prestigious award on Thursday night.
But after a combination of public votes, votes from World Sailing’s Member National Authorities around the world, and on-the-night attendees, Mills and Clark emerged on top, rounding off a golden end for the latter, who retired after Rio.
Clark said: “We owe a big thank you to our coach Joe Glanfield who’s been a massive part of this, and all our family at British Sailing. “This is just an amazing end to our partnership together.”
Mills added: “We’re so grateful to everyone who’s here tonight to celebrate sailing and what a fantastic sport it is.
“Thank you to everyone who voted for us, but also to all the other nominees who were just incredible this summer.
“Rio was a fantastic Games and the Brazilians put on an amazing show. Everyone had to deliver their absolute best performance. “It’s really emotional, thank you very much everyone.” British Finn gold medallist and four-time World Champion Giles Scott was pipped to the male prize by 55-year-old Santiago Lange, the Argentine having won Nacra 17 gold in Rio.
Sportsbeat 2016