Hannah Mills

Hannah Mills is recognized as the most successful female Olympic sailor, having earned two gold medals and one silver across three consecutive Summer Olympics in the women's 470 class. Mills began her Olympic career with a silver medal at London, partnering with Saskia Clark, and went on to win gold at Rio with Clark and another gold at Tokyo with Eilidh McIntyre. This achievement established Mills as the most decorated female Olympic sailor, adding to her record of two 470 World Championships and multiple World and European Championship medals.

Mills' career has been acknowledged with honors such as Female World Sailor of the Year and the World Sailor of the Year Award, which she received alongside McIntyre. Beyond her accomplishments on the water, Mills is an advocate for sustainability and environmental conservation. Her experiences traveling for international sailing competitions highlighted the impact of plastic pollution on marine environments, motivating her environmental activism. As an International Olympic Committee Sustainability Ambassador, Mills launched the Big Plastic Pledge and co-founded Athletes of the World, a group focused on climate change advocacy. The group's video message to global leaders at COP26 reached a wide audience and generated significant media value. Mills regularly speaks at schools, events, and summits about the intersection of elite sport and environmental responsibility.

Mills made history as the first female sailor to join Sir Ben Ainslie's SailGP Team, where she contributed to the team's performance and led the Women's Pathway Programme within SailGP. SailGP is a global sailing competition featuring F50 foiling catamarans capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph. As a strategist, Mills is responsible for tactical decisions, wind analysis, and team coordination. She also co-launched the Athena Pathway Programme with Ainslie to accelerate high-performance sailing development and promote diversity in the sport. Mills helmed the Athena Pathway team in the inaugural Women's America's Cup.

In recognition of her contributions to sailing and environmental advocacy, Mills was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. She has also served as an Impact Champion for the Sport Impact Summit, supporting initiatives that unite athletes, sport teams, scientists, and commercial leaders to promote sustainability and health. Mills continues to demonstrate how athletic achievement and leadership in environmental advocacy can be integrated within the world of professional sailing.