 |
| © Clive Mason/Getty Images |
Alessandra SENSINI entered the record books in 2008 when she became the first woman to win four Olympic medals in sailing.
At the age of 38, SENSINI has been a force to be reckoned with on the windsurfing circuit for decades and continues to demonstrate her outstanding skill by adapting seamlessly to new equipment as the sport develops and maintaining the extreme physical fitness demanded by the discipline.
She began her 2008 season with a gold medal at the 2008 RS:X World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, her second title in the class since the inaugural World Championship in 2006. After a solid series including five race wins, SENSINI was on equal points with fellow veteran windsurfer Barbara KENDALL from New Zealand, but the Italian sailed a clinical Medal Race to secure her fourth windsurfing world title.
Back to Europe and SENSINI picked up another gold medal at the HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE in Palma, Spain and 20th at the Europeans in Brest, France. On to Qingdao for the Olympic Sailing Competition and SENSINI had her sights set on the podium again. An impressive series of results, not finishing a race outside the top ten, SENSINI flirted with the top of the leaderboard throughout the opening series. Going into the Medal Race she had to put two competitors between herself and the Chinese sailor and duly put in a true champions performance to convincingly win the race. The action unfolding behind SENSINI gave YIN the gold medal but SENSINI was delighted with her historic achievement of a 4th Olympic medal by adding the silver to her gold medal from Sydney in 2000 and bronze medals from Athens in 2004 and Atlanta in 1996.
2 - RS:X New Zealand National Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade 3 - Dec 2007
1 - RS:X World Championships, Auckland, NZL - ISAF Grade W - Jan 2008
1 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy MAPFRE, Palma, ESP - ISAF Grade 2 - Mar 2008
20 - RS:X European Championships, Brest, FRA - ISAF Grade C1 - May 2008
2 - 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao, CHN - ISAF Grade W - Aug 2008
ISAF World Sailing Rankings position at the end of the nomination period (3 September 2008) – # 6
| Name |
Alessandra SENSINI |
| Place and Date of birth |
Grosseto - 26 January 1970 |
| Profession |
Athlete |
| ISAF Sailor ID |
ITAAS3 |
| What inspired you to take up sailing? |
Sense of freedom and energy |
| What was the first boat you sailed and how old were you? |
Windsurfer, 13 years old |
| Name your first sailing club |
Club Nautico Maremma |
|
|
| What was the first event you competed in and when? |
Club Championship in 1992 |
| What was the first event you won and when? |
Giochi della Gioventù, 1983 (It’s a competition for students) |
| What are your personal highlights of your career to date? |
- 1994, winner of Professional World Cup Tour in Course Race
- 1996, bronze medal Atlanta Olympic Games
- 2000, gold medal Sydney Olympic Games
- 2004, bronze medal Athens Olympic Games
- 2006 and 2008, World Champion in RS:X
- 2008, silver medal Beijing Olympic Games
|
| What are your future sailing goals? |
After a long vacation I will come back with an ambitious and important project about sailing |
| Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing career and why? |
All of my staff, my trainers and above all, my family |
| Who is your sailing hero? |
I always follow my passion and never a hero. My passion is my hero |
| What other sports do you enjoy? |
Tennis, Surfing and in the future I’d like playing golf |
| What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you? |
It’s an important appointment for me and It’s always an honour to take part of this Award as nominee |
| If you were voted as the winner, what would this mean to you? |
After this last medal at the Beijing Olympic Games I’m the female sailor with most Olympic medals in the world. For me to win the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards could be the crowning achievement of my long career |
|
