One of the top female formula kite competitors in the world, Ellie Aldridge is a 27-year-old British sailor, Who is A four-time World Cup medallist and most recently she earned a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Ellie Aldridge Qualified For the 2024 Paris Olympics
Ellie Aldridge has been selected as the sole representative for Great Britain in the women’s kiteboarding event at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She was one of the first 11 athletes picked for the British Olympic sailing squad.
Just two days after winning gold at the 2023 Formula Kite European Championships in Portsmouth, Aldridge received a life-changing call confirming her selection for Paris 2024. She admitted feeling “shocked” and credited her fellow British kiteboarders for pushing her to succeed.
“I wouldn’t be going to the Olympic without the rest of the girls pushing me,” “It’s incredible to be selected and it gives me a lot of confidence.“The key to our success is our drive as a group. It’s easy for other countries to say, ‘They get loads of money, coaching, and people telling them what to do.’
said Aldridge.
Aldridge secured a historic victory two weeks ago when she won the European title in the women’s kite class at the 2023 championships in Portsmouth. She defeated Great Britain and The Netherlands in the finals to claim the gold medal.
As an ambassador for sustainable water solutions provider Bluewater, Aldridge will champion environmental stewardship on her journey to Paris 2024.
Bluewater expressed pride in her selection, noting her exceptional athletic talent and passion for sustainability align perfectly with the brand’s vision.
“I have enjoyed working with Bluewater over the past year, and I love being part of such an exciting brand that shares the same environmental beliefs. This year has been great, but I think 2024 can be even better!”
Ellie Aldridge commented
Ellie Aldridge’s Olympic journey began with a capsized boat.
Ellie Aldridge’s path to becoming an Olympic athlete began with an upside-down sailboat when she was just 7 years old. The incident initially made her skeptical of returning to the water.
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However, she later rediscovered her love of sailing through kite foiling, which she began doing for weekend fun.
Things took a turn when kiteboarding was added to the Olympic program for the 2024 Paris Games. This development motivated Aldridge to start training with the dedication to qualify for the Olympics.
Ellie Aldridge’s Early years were filled with inspiration from her grandfather
Eleanor Aldridge was born on December 29, 1996, in Poole, Dorset, British kiteboarder Ellie Aldridge grew up steeped in sailing and seafaring. Currently residing in Portland, she works with the British Sailing Team and two yacht clubs.
Aldridge’s grandfather, her sailing role model, inspired her from a very young age. She first began sailing herself in an AB-size boat when she was just 5 years old.
In addition to her grandfather’s inspiration and mentorship as her sailing role model, the stunning waters of La Ventana, Mexico. She often cites this sailing venue, known for its optimal wind and wave conditions, as her favorite place to sail.
Ellie Aldridge Sailing Career
Aldridge Early Starts
Ellie Aldridge started out sailing small dinghy boats when she was young. In 2018, she switched to competitive kiteboarding. Only one year later, Aldridge was already competing at the European Championships.
By 2021, she had won a medal at the Kiteboarding World Championships. This showed she was one of the best in the world.
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Now, Aldridge is a regular top finisher in big kiteboarding events. In 2023, she won silvers at the Olympic Test Event and World Championships. She ended the year with a big gold medal win at the Europeans in Portsmouth, U.K.
Her success in major races showed she was ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Aldridge will be the only woman representing Great Britain in kiteboarding in Paris.
Professional Career
At the 2023 European Championships, Ellie Aldridge won her first big senior title as an Olympic kiteboarder. The event took place in Portsmouth, England.
In the women’s finals, Ellie faced Lily Young from Great Britain, Annelous Lammerts from the Netherlands, and Poema Newland from France. To win the gold medal, a rider needed to win three races.
Going into the finals, Aldridge had already won two early races. So she only needed one more victory. In the first race, Aldridge made a mistake and Lammerts passed her to win.
But in the second final race, Aldridge succeeded. She controlled her kite well and finished first to claim the European Championship. Lammerts took silver and Newland got the bronze medal.
Winning the 2023 Europeans showed Aldridge was ready to compete for Olympic gold in sailing when the Paris Games started in 2024.
