Sophie Otter

Sports Award

Age:

26

Biography

My name is Sophie, I am twenty years old and from Lutterworth. I started sailing at age 10, and progressed through the Olympic junior pathway to be selected for the British Youth Sailing Team in the laser, and then 29er. I competed internationally for several years where some of my highlights include British National Champion 2016, silver medal at the Europeans, Austria and fourth females at Kiele Woche, Germany.

JHMT's Support

Recently, following the decision to include kitesurfing in the 2024 Olympics, I have been selected into the British KIte4Gold campaign due to the similarity between sailing and kitesurfing. This is a campaign aimed at developing world class female athletes with the potential to win gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Over the last several weeks I have been training hard to develop my kite control skills, as well as my skills on both a twin tip and a directional board. At the minute, I am trying to get in as many hours on the water as possible. The Olympics is in 6 years time, which is an extremely short period of time to learn how to foil kitesurf, but I am determined to do it. Next summer I will compete in the World and European Championships, which will be a good measure of my progress so far.

The support from the inspire awards means that I am able to afford equipment and training costs that are vital in order to continue progressing over the winter period ready for my events next season.

Simon Taylor, Inspire Lead, said: 'This is a great example of how the award scheme can reach out to people in diverse areas where there are no or very limited funding opportunities.'

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