Ellie Aldridge made MBE in New Year's Honours
by British Sailing Team 31 Dec 2024 17:29 NZDT
Ellie Aldridge (GBR) wins Women's Kite gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics © World Sailing / Lloyd Images
Ellie Aldridge has been made an MBE in the King's New Year's Honours following her groundbreaking victory in the women's kite competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Aldridge made history as the first ever Formula Kite gold medallist, defeating 19 of the world's best to take the top spot in Marseille this summer.
The kite discipline, which involves competitors flying above the water on hydrofoils at up to 40 knots powered by huge kites, made its Games debut at Paris 2024.
Aldridge, 28, was made a Member of the British Empire for services to sailing.
"I feel very honoured to be on the New Year's Honours list," said Aldridge, from Poole, Dorset.
"It really has been an amazing year, and this feels like the cherry on the cake. I didn't go to university and I never thought I'd ever have any letters after my name, let alone MBE!
"To be recognised alongside extremely inspiring and extraordinary people is such a privilege and I do believe sport can change lives for the better.
"I hope that I have and can continue to help inspire everyone who watched the Olympics and was intrigued to try kitesurfing or any watersports to give it a go."
The honour caps a stellar few years for Aldridge, who joined the British Sailing Team in 2016 as a dinghy sailor before switching to kiting.
In 2018 she took a gamble on a new talent ID programme the team was running called Kite4Gold to identify and develop potential medallists in the incoming Formula Kite class.
Within six months she was the European champion, and went on to become a regular feature of the World Championship podium.
Her Olympic preparation enjoyed a boost when she was crowned the 2023 European champion, winning on home waters of Portsmouth, as well as taking silver at the Paris 2024 test event.
Light winds in Marseille hampered the kite racing, with only six races held in the run-up to the medal series.
Aldridge went into the finale in second, tied on points with France's Lauriane Nolot, but powered her way to Team GB's 13th gold with two convincing race wins.
Aldridge joins a host of Team GB stars picking up honours, including 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson and individual trampoline Olympic champion Bryony Page.