The 2024 Rolex World Sailor of the Year award was presented to Marit Bouwmeester NED, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist and the most successful female sailor in Olympic history.
The winners were determined by a combined vote of a record 49,964 public votes and an expert panel of judges.
This marks Marit’s second Rolex World Sailor of the Year award, having previously won in 2017.
This year, the 30th anniversary of the inaugural awards, Marit cemented her place as the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time by winning gold in the women’s dinghy event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her career now includes four Olympic medals: two gold (Paris 2024 and Rio 2016), one silver (London 2012), and one bronze (Tokyo 2020).
Marit’s remarkable Olympic success has earned her recognition as a role model, especially after her inspiring return to competitive sailing following the birth of her daughter, just in time for Olympic preparations.
In addition to her Olympic achievements, Marit is the most successful female sailor at the ILCA Senior Europeans, with five gold medals, two silver, and one bronze.
A huge congratulations to Marit – we can’t wait to see you in Sweden in 2025!
The EurILCA Team
