Shirley Robertson

Shirley Ann Robertson, OBE DL (born 15 July 1968) is a British sailor and Olympic gold medallist. She is the first British woman to win Olympic gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.

Early life

Robertson was born in Dundee, Scotland, but spent her early life in Menstrie in central Scotland. Robertson began sailing at the age of seven on Loch Ard in Scotland. Her early passion for the sport was nurtured by her family, leading her to compete in local and national events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sailing Career

Robertson's first major international breakthrough came in the 1998 World Championships, where she won a silver medal in the Europe class. This set the stage for her Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games, where she competed in the Europe class, finishing in fourth place.

Olympic Games

Representing Great Britain

Year	Position	Event	Location
1992	9th {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Barcelona, Spain {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
1996	4th {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Savannah, United States {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2000	1st {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Sydney, Australia {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2004	1st {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	Athens, Greece {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}

Robertson made a significant breakthrough during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where she won her first gold medal in the Europe class. This victory marked a significant moment in British sailing history, as it was the first time a British woman had won an Olympic gold in sailing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Four years later, at the Athens 2004 Olympics, Robertson secured her second gold medal, this time in the Yngling class, alongside crew-mates Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton. This achievement made her the first British woman to win gold medals at two consecutive Olympic Games.<ref>Template:Cite Sports-Reference</ref>

World Championships

Pos	Year	Regatta	Event	Class	Location	Notes
8	1987	IYRU World Women's Sailing Championships	Female	ILCA
18	1990		Female	Europe class
36	1992		Female	Europe class|-
2nd {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	1993	Europe World Championships	Female	Europe class	Kaløvig, Denmark {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
16	1994		Female	Europe class
13	1995		Female	Europe class
4	1997		Female	Europe class
2nd {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	1998		Female	Europe class	Travemünde, Germany {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
3rd {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		Female	Europe class	Mornington, Australia {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
2nd {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}		Female	Europe class	Salvador da Bahia, Brazil {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
14	2001	Yngling World Championship	Open	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
16	2002		Female	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
7	2003		Female	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
12	2003		Open	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
16	2004		Female	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
3rd {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}	2007		Female	Yngling	Cascais, Portugal	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
8th	2008		Female	Yngling		Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
5	1999	ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship	Female	J/22	Genoa, Italy	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
4	2000		Female	Sonar	St. Petersberg, USA	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
4th	2010	Extreme 40 World Championship	Open

Post-Olympic Media Career

From 2006 to 2019 she presenter of Mainsail, a monthly CNN program devoted to the sport of sailing. Since 2008 she has been also a commentator for the BBC's sailing coverage at the Summer Olympics, commentating from five Olympic sailing regattas. She also has done a number of events hosting World Sailor of the Year Awards on multiple occasions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Robertson is also part of the commentary team for the prestigious America's Cup, commentating from Auckland, New Zealand and Barcelona, Spain for the 36th and 37th editions of the world's oldest international sporting trophy.

Robertson was responsible for appointing one of the seven teenagers to light the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She nominated upcoming youth sailor Callum Airlie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the games, she became a commentator for the BBC, commentating on the sailing from Weymouth.

In 2019, Robertson launched her own podcast series: Shirley Robertson's Sailing Podcast which sees Robertson sit down for in depth and personal interviews with some of the leading figures from the sport of sailing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2023, she became the godmother of MS Ambition, a cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first stop on the ship's maiden voyage was from Newcastle to Dundee, Robertson's birth place.Template:Fact

In 2024 Shirley Robertson took up the roll of General Manager of the SuperYacht Racing Association, SYRA. Robertson herself has been racing on the superyacht circuit for over a decade.Template:Fact

Honours and recognition

Robertson was named female World Sailor of the Year by World Sailing in 2000, and was appointed an MBE in 2000 followed by an OBE in 2005 for services to Sailing.Template:Fact She was awarded an honorary MSc by the University of Chichester in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Shirley married Irish businessman Jamie Boag<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who she has twins Killian and Annabel with.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She now lives with her longterm partner, documentary cameraman Tim Butt in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.Template:Fact

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Sport links
• Template:Scottish Sports Hall of Fame
• Template:World Sailing
• Template:Olympics.com
• Template:Olympedia
• Template:Team GB
• Article on WideWorld Magazine