John Bertrand would have you believe that his main claim to fame is that he is a proud Australian. To his fellow Australians he is much more.
He is the Australian who skippered the winged keel Australia 2to victory over Dennis Connor’s Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup, breaking 132 years of American domination and, in the process, breaking the longest-running record in the history of modern sport. The comeback from3-1 down and the final race victory, billed as the race of the century, was perhaps the greatest upset in modern Australian sports history.
The Australia 2team victory was voted by the Confederation of Australian Sport as the greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian sport.
A World Champion and Olympic medalist, John represented Australia in five America's Cups and two Olympic Games. In over 25 years of America’s Cup campaigning, he was involved in all areas of activity…from skipper of Australia 2to Chairman of One Australia.
Australia conferred a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on John in 1985. His biography 'Born to Win" published in 1985, was at the time the largest-selling biography in Australian publishing history. John is both a businessman and philanthropist.
He is co-owner and Chairman of one of Australia’s largest independent television production and distribution companies. His company, World Wide Entertainment, exports television shows to 180 countries worldwide.
John is Chairman of the Alannah and Madeline Children’s Foundation, which is a world leader in developing anti-bullying programs within Australian Schools.
He is also Chairman of Sport Australia Hall of Fame. John holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University and a Master of Science degree from MIT in Boston.
He is a life member of both the International America's Cup Hall of Fame and Australia’s Sports Hall of Fame.
John’s love of sailing continues to this day. He actively competes at the highest level within the International Etchells class.
