Our World Class Athletes
Pippa Wilson
Sailing Olympian
Competitive Record:
- 2008 - Beijing Olympics - Gold Medal
- 2007 - Olympic Test Event Qingdao - Gold Medal
- 2007 - ISAF World Championships - Gold Medal
- 2007 - Breitling Holland/Spa Regatta - Gold Medal
470 Results
- 2007 - Rolex Miami OCR - Silver Medal
- 2006 - Holland Regatta - 13
- 2006 - Olympic Classes Week, Hyeres - 5
- 2006 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy - 10
- 2006 - Rolex Miami OCR - 9
- 2005 - World Championship - 7
- 2005 - European Championship - 8
- 2005 - Holland Regatta - 6
- 2005 - Olympic Classes Week, Hyeres - 9
- 2005 - HRH Princess Sofia Trophy - 10
Biography:
After joining forces with Olympic gold medallists, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb in the Yngling team Pippa Wilson won her first Olympic Gold Medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. For the 2009 season Wilson joined forces with Saskia Clark to race in the women's 470. At the 470 World Championships they placed seventh, and at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth they won bronze.
Wilson began sailing at the young age of five years old in an Optimist at Salterns Sailing Club, in Lymington.
It quickly became apparent that she had a natural talent for sailing, and it wasn't long before she began to compete in the junior events at her club. With the support of her parents, Wilson's skills developed very quickly and it was not long before she was seen on the podium at the ISAF Youth World Championships, winning gold in the 29er class at the 2002 event and following this up with bronze in the 420 class two years later.
Her ability at youth level did not go unnoticed and in no time at all Wilson was an integral part of the RYA Development Squad sailing in the 470 class, finishing in the top ten in many of the world's top events, including a seventh place at the 2005 470 World Championship. However, in 2006 Wilson felt she needed a change from the double-handed 470 class.
Having sailed with a number of temporary bowgirls after mounting their own Olympic campaign, Olympic Yngling Champions Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb expressed an interest to sail with Wilson and a bronze medal at their first regatta together, the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth and Portland in October 2006, laid the foundations for what was to be an incredible year for the trio in 2007. Wilson and the two Sarah's have bonded extremely well and have become a formidable team, winning gold at the ISAF World Championships in Cascais, as well as at the Olympic Test Event in Qingdao.
Further information:
Place of Birth - Southampton
Home town - Lymington
Club - Lymington Yacht Club
Coach - Paul Brotherton
Sport - Sailing
