Sailing By The Numbers

A numerical look at the sailing competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games based on historic facts and figures.

1900 – Year in which Olympic Sailing events were first held.

690 – Distance in kilometres from Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center to the National Stadium, or “Bird’s Nest”, in Beijing.

213 – Height in centimetres of Raul AGUAYO (DOM), the tallest sailor at the Games.

157 – Height in cm of Nancy RIOS (USA), the shortest Sailing competitor in Beijing.

112 – Weight in kilogrammes of Bernardo SANTOS (POR), the heaviest sailor at the Olympics.

58 – Age of John DANE (USA), the oldest sailor at Beijing 2008.

57 – Total of sailing medals won by the United States, the most by any nation.

48 – Weight in kg of Elise RECHICHI (AUS), the lightest Sailing competitor at the Games.

19 – Number of gold medals won by Great Britain, the most by any nation.

17 – Age of Peter BURLING (NZL), the youngest sailor in Qingdao.

16 – Years between the two gold medals won by Johan August ANKER (NOR), in 1912 and 1928.

11 – Number of medal events in Men’s (seven) and Women’s (four) competitions, two of which are in windsurfing.

9 – Number of medals won by Canada, the most by any nation never to win a gold medal.

5 – Medals won by Torben GRAEL (BRA), the most by any individual sailor.

4 – Total of gold medals won by Paul ELVSTRÖM (DEN), the most successful Olympic sailor.

3 – Medals won by Barbara KENDALL (NZL) and Alessandra SENSINI (ITA), the most by female sailors.

2 – Gold medals won by Shirley ROBERTSON (GBR) and Theresa ZABELL (ESP), making them the most successful female Olympic sailors.

1 – Most medals won by China at an Olympics. Xiaodong ZHANG (1992, Sailing) and Jian YIN (2004, Windsurfing) both took silver.