Santiago Lange – Rolex World Sailor of the Year!

Congratulations to Santiago Lange, Rolex World Sailor of the year!

Santiago is 3 times Snipe World Champion and Olympic gold medal winner in Rio.

From the World Sailing website:

The winners of the 2016 Rolex World Sailors of the Year were announced at an impressive awards ceremony held at the 18th century Casa Llotja De Mar, in the presence of some 500 guests:

Male Winner: SANTIAGO LANGE, ARGENTINA
Santiago Lange provided Rio 2016 with the fairy tale storyline of the Olympic Games as he won gold with Cecilia Carranza Saroli in the Nacra 17. At 54-years-old, six-time Olympian and two-time bronze medal winner, Lange was the oldest sailor competing, but his story goes beyond his age. Just one year prior to the Games Lange was diagnosed with cancer and had to have a lung removed. Making the start line of the competition was an achievement in itself for the resilient Argentinean. Lange showed what is possible when passion is backed by courage and determination.

…

“This is a very emotional moment in a very long sailing career. It is a win for ‘us’ because I could not have done it without Ceciia. I want to thank all the other nominees, they are athletes I really admire. Only the very best win gold medals at the Games, and I have a lot of respect for all the other nominees.”

As reward for his achievement, Lange was recipient of a specially engraved Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 and a marble and silver trophy depicting the globe, crowned with five silver spinnakers representing the continents.

Female Winners: HANNAH MILLS & SASKIA CLARK, GREAT BRITAIN