Australian Institute of Sport athlete Tom Slingsby has been named the 2010 ISAF World Sailor of the Year, becoming the first Australian to win this prestigious award, which was announced at a ceremony in Athens, Greece this week.

The 26-year-old Slingsby was recognised for his outstanding performances in 2010 which included winning both the 2010 ISAF Laser and Etchells World Championships (within two weeks) and regaining the world number one ranking  in the Laser sailing class.

The three-time Laser World Champion in 2007, 2008 and 2010 was honoured to receive this award.

‘Winning this award is a great honour, the sailing greats have been nominated for and won this award before, I don’t feel like I’m up there with those guys and was thrilled just to be nominated in the first place,’ said Slingsby.

’I remember about 10 years ago sitting on the rocks on Sydney Harbour watching two greats, Ben Ainslie and Robert Sheidt, (two former winners of this award) competing in the Laser class at the Sydney Olympic Games. I remember that that was the moment that I realised that this was really what I wanted to do and it’s a great honour to have my name said in the same breath as people like that, people I’ve looked up to.’

AIS athletes Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page were also nominated for this award in winning the 470 class world championship.  

Slingsby has achieved outstanding success on the world stage, making a strong comeback after finishing in 22nd place at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Since September 2009 he has won six out of seven Laser regattas, the 2010 Laser World Championship and four ISAF Sailing World Cup Rounds, which includes consecutive victories in Weymouth, England, which is the venue for the Olympic sailing program at the London 2012 Games.     

Slingsby’s all-round talent has been evident in his success in other sailing classes, including being a member of the Australian team that won the 2010 Etchells World Championship alongside sailing legend John Bertrand and Andrew Palfrey and that finished second at the 2010 Farr40  World Championship in the Dominican Republic aboard the yacht: Transfusion.

The AIS Sailing program works in partnership with Yachting Australia providing access to  sports science and sports medicine support, international competition programs, training facilities and world-class coaches.