Aussie windsurfer Sarah Kenny elected a World Sailing vice-president
She’s a former elite sailor turned lawyer and mum who has just returned to racing windsurfers for fun. She is also now one of the most powerful Australian figures in world sport.
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When Sarah Kenny started sailing as a shy, skinny nine-year-old she never imaged she would one day be helping rule the sport.
But Kenny, a 56-year-old former windsurfing champion, lawyer and leader in the fight towards gender equity in sport at the highest level, is doing just that after being elected as a World Sailing vice-president overnight in Europe.
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It is her experience in the sport over more than four decades, from her first races while at primary school to winning a world title and racing at a the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic in a demonstration class, that have propelled Kenny to her new role.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for sailing and all the experiences I have had in it,’’ said the Mosman mother of teenagers Max and John Mark. also passionate and talented sailors.
Sailing gave me the belief you can compete against anyone
“I was really shy as a kid. It helped me with that, with resilience, confidence, taught me about team building, social skills.
“We sailed we sailed with the boys, we were always in a minority if not the only one, and it gave me a sense that you can do whatever your want.
“Sailing gave me the belief you can compete against anyone.’’
Her new role makes Kenny one of the most powerful Australians in world sport and follows on from her role on the World Sailing Council where she was charged with ensuring gender equity in sailing at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
She is only the second Australian to hold the role after Neutral Bay’s David Kellett, a well known former Sydney to Hobart racer.
Kenny received the second highest number of votes at the election - 96 out of 127 members associations.
“To get that much support is a real vote of support,’’ she said.
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Some of her goals during her time on the Council include growing the sport in terms of participants and exposure, working to help emerging nations, pushing for more schools to adopt sailing on their sport programs and continuing to support and push for increased numbers and opportunities for women in sailing.
“Sarah is one of only a handful of Australians on the executives of International Federations, so her election to this position is significant, ” said AOC Executive Member and former Australian Sailing president Matt Allen.
Current Australian Sailing president Daniel Belcher will take over Kenny’s role on the Oceania Council.
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