Iain Percy

Iain Percy OBE is recognized as one of Great Britain's most decorated Olympic sailors, having competed in four Olympic Games and winning three medals. Percy learned to sail at age four and made his debut at the Laser Class European Championships at 17. After studying economics and mathematics, Percy won Olympic gold at the Sydney Games in the Finn class two years after graduating from Bristol University. He received his gold medal at a ceremony on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Following Sydney, Percy transitioned to the two-person Star class, initially partnering with Steve Mitchell. The duo achieved prominence by winning the Star World Championship in Los Angeles and maintained international competitiveness with podium finishes at subsequent Star World Championships, as well as capturing the Star European Championship title. Percy later teamed up with Andrew Simpson, and together they overcame setbacks, including a 52nd-place finish at the Star World Championships, to win gold at the Beijing Olympics. At the London Olympics, Percy and Simpson secured the silver medal after a close race against the Swedish team. This marked Percy's third Olympic medal, making him only the third Briton after Rodney Pattisson and Ben Ainslie to win three Olympic sailing medals.

Beyond his Olympic achievements, Percy's career has included both triumph and personal tragedy. After the London Olympics, Percy and Simpson joined the Artemis Racing America's Cup team. The partnership ended abruptly following a training accident in San Francisco Bay in which Simpson drowned. In response, Percy helped establish the Andrew Simpson Foundation with Simpson's wife Leah and Sir Ben Ainslie, serving as a founding trustee. Percy also guided Artemis Racing back to competition, serving as Sailing Team Director for the Challenger of Record for the 35th America's Cup.

After his competitive sailing career, Percy founded Artemis Technologies, focusing on sustainable maritime transport. The company developed the patented Artemis eFoiler system, which powers a range of 100 percent electric hydrofoiling boats, including a 150-passenger ferry and a luxury water taxi. The Artemis EF-24 Passenger ferry is set to join Red Funnel's Hi-Speed fleet, advancing the decarbonization of maritime travel. Percy also serves as CEO of the Artemis SailGP team, overseeing its participation in the global SailGP championship.

Percy's accomplishments have been recognized with several honors. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his Olympic gold medal and later promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He was also appointed Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve for his achievements in sailing and entrepreneurship. As an Olympic champion and technology entrepreneur, Percy is regarded as a leading voice on leadership, performance under pressure, and maritime innovation.