As a Speaker
Barbara Kendall is a 3 time World Champion, Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze Medallist Windsurfer. She was racing P Class boats at the age of 12 and attained success in a variety of classes at a national level. At 16 she tried her hand at windsurfing as a serious sport and entered her first world competition in Scotland in 1984. Her drive and commitment to success are endless. She has numerous world titles to her credit, many being achieved after overcoming extreme trauma or adversity.
Brief History
- She claimed her first in 1987 when she won the World Production Class Championships in Sweden.
- She won a Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, the first woman in New Zealand to do so for 40 years. A silver Medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA. She has just completed the set with a bronze medal at the Sydney, Australia Olympics, in 2000.
- Her achievements and dedication to her sport have been widely recognised; firstly with prestigious AGC Young Achievers Award in 1989 and later the Commemorative Queens Medal, the MBE and The Yachts person of the year award in 1992 and 1998.
- In 1996 she became New Zealand's most successful female Olympian for which she was awarded New Zealand's Sportswoman of the year in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
- Barbara works for the Hillary Commission as a junior sports ambassador for sport motivating young people to be the best they can be.
- She has been on the athletes commission board for New Zealand since 1996.
- She sits on Yachting New Zealand's High Performance board and is a trustee at the new Millenium Sport and Health Centre in Albany.
- She has also worked as New Zealand's Windsurfing coach when time permits.
- The Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre has also just appointed her as a co-patron along with Sir Edmund.
