Shirley Ann Robertson


1968 -

Shirley Robertson
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Shirley Robertson

Olympic sailor. Born in Dundee and brought up in Menstrie (Clackmannanshire), Robertson began sailing on Loch Ard in a dingy built by her father. She graduated in recreation management from Heriot-Watt University in 1990. After a 4th place in the Atlanta Olympics (1996), she won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics (2000) for Europe class dingy sailing, the first Scottish woman to win an Olympic gold since 1912 and Britain's first female Olympic sailing medallist. Robertson reinforced this victory by taking a further Olympic gold in the Yngling class in Athens (2004).

Among her many honours, she became the International Sailing Federation's World Sailor of the Year in 2000, was awarded an MBE (2001) and an OBE (2005). The accolade 'Top Scot' was bestowed on her at the 2004 Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards and she became Glasgow Sportsperson of the Year in the same year.

She now lives in Cowes (Isle of Wight).


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