Shirley Robertson


Shirley Ann Robertson, OBE DL 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.

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

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.
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.

World Championships

PosYearRegattaEventClassLocationNotes
81987IYRU World Women's Sailing ChampionshipsFemaleILCA--
181990IYRU World Women's Sailing ChampionshipsFemaleEurope class--
361992IYRU World Women's Sailing ChampionshipsFemale---
2nd1993Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope classKaløvig, Denmark-
161994Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope class--
131995Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope class--
41997Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope class--
2nd1998Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope classTravemünde, Germany-
3rd1999Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope classMornington, Australia-
2nd2000Europe World ChampionshipsFemaleEurope classSalvador da Bahia, Brazil-
142001Yngling World ChampionshipOpenYnglingCraig Mitchell|GBR

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.
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 2012 [Summer Olympics opening ceremony|at the opening ceremony] of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She nominated upcoming youth sailor Callum Airlie. 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.
In 2023, she became the godmother of MS Ambition, a cruise ship operated by Ambassador Cruise Line. The first stop on the ship's maiden voyage was from Newcastle to Dundee, Robertson's birth place.
In 2024 Shirley Robertson took up the roll of General Manager of the , SYRA. Robertson herself has been racing on the superyacht circuit for over a decade.

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. She was awarded an honorary MSc by the University of Chichester in 2001.

Personal life

Shirley married Irish businessman Jamie Boag who she has twins Killian and Annabel with. She now lives with her longterm partner, documentary cameraman Tim Butt in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.