Barbara Kendall
Barbara Kendall is a World Champion and Olympic Gold, Silver and
Bronze Medallist boardsailer. Racing P Class boats at the age of
12, she gained success at a national level before turning to
windsurfing at 16.
Her drive and commitment to success has ensured numerous world
titles to her credit - she claimed her first in 1987 when she
won the World Production Class Championships in Sweden.
She won a Gold Medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games - the
first woman to do so for New Zealand in 40 years; a Silver Medal at
1996 Atlanta Olympics and a Bronze at the 2000 Sydney
Olympics.
Turning to Mistral boardsailing, Barbara won the Women's Mistral
World Champion title in 1998, 1999 and 2002.
Her achievements and dedication to her sport have been widely
recognised - in 1989 she received the AGC Young Achievers
Award and later the Commemorative Queen's Medal, the MBE and the
Sir Bernard Ferguson Trophy Yachtsperson of the Year Award.
In 1996 she became New Zealand's most successful female Olympian
and was awarded New Zealand Sports Woman of the Year, which she
received again in 2003 following her success at the World
Championships.
Barbara is a Sports Ambassador for Sport and Recreation New
Zealand.
Barbara Kendall danced
for
Upside Downs Education
Trust
