© Oscar Pipkin/40 Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia - Mapfre
Factfile
Name	Blanca Manchón
Nation	ESP
Date of Birth	6 March 1987
Place of Birth	Sevilla, Spain
Website	http://www.blancamanchon.com/

In September 2009, Blanca Manchón was crowned 2008-09 ISAF Sailing World Cup champion after dominating the competition throughout the seven-regatta series. Manchón sealed the deal with a victory at the final regatta of the series, Skandia Sail for Gold in Weymouth, to bring her total of gold medals to four. This talented young windsurfer finished on the podium at every single regatta she sailed, an outstanding achievement.

Manchón claimed the silver medal at the 2009 RS:X World Championships in Weymouth, but it is gold that she really strives for. One year on and the RS:X fleet were in Denmark for the 2010 World Championship and this time Manchón was going to settle for nothing less than the top of the podium. It did not come easy and she had to dig deep to come from behind in the Medal Race to take the win.

Manchón is one of the busiest sailors on the circuit and sailed at six of the 2009-2010 ISAF Sailing World Cup regattas, finishing on the podium at five of them. Second in Miami was her first medal followed by another silver in Hyères. She then claimed her first gold at the Delta Lloyd Regatta before finishing both Kieler Woche and Skandia Sail for Gold with the silver medal. The impressive consistency of Manchón secured her second consecutive ISAF Sailing World Cup win.

RS:X - Women's Windsurfer

2 - RS:X World Championship, Weymouth & Portland, GBR - ISAF Grade W - Aug/September 2009
1 - Skandia Sail For Gold, Regatta Weymouth & Portland, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - September 2009
1st overall 2008-2009 ISAF Sailing World Cup
1 - Bay of Cadiz - New Year Regatta Cadiz, ESP - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2009
2 - US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR, Miami, USA - ISAF Grade 1- January 2010
3 - Carnival Trophy, Cadiz, ESP - February 2010 (ungraded)
6 - Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia MAPFRE, Palma de Majorca, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - March 2010
2 - Semaine Olympique Francaise Hyères, FRA - ISAF Grade 1 - April 2010
1 - Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik, NED - ISAF Grade 1 - May 2010
2 - Kieler Woche, Kiel, GER - ISAF Grade 1 - June 2010
11 - RS:X European Windsurfing Continental Championship Sopot, POL - ISAF Grade C1 - July 2010
2 - Skandia Sail For Gold Regatta Weymouth & Portland, GBR - ISAF Grade 2 - August 2010
1st overall 2009-2010 ISAF Sailing World Cup
1 - RS:X World Championship, Kerteminde, DEN - ISAF Grade W - Aug/September 2010

What inspired you to take up sailing?

My family

What was the first boat you ever sailed and how old were you?

Optimist

Name your first sailing club

Club Nautico Sevilla

What was the first event you competed in and in what year?

1997, Aloha World Championship in Poland, aged 10

What are you personal sailing career highlights?

World Champion in all the age status of Olympic windsurfing

What are your future sailing goals?

To win a gold medal in 2012 at the London Olympic Games

Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing and career and why?

Participating in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens when I was just 17 had a very big impact.

Who is your sailing hero?

Alessandra Senini (ITA)

What other sports do you enjoy?

Surfing and snowboarding

What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you and how would you feel if you were voted the winner?

I am very proud. It is great! It is the reward for training so hard everyday. Winning would be a gift for me and my family.