Inspiring story of how a New Zealand woman, four-time Olympic windsurfing champion got to the top — and stayed there. Barbara Kendall is one of New Zealand’s most successful Olympians and also one of its best-loved athletes. In 2008 she went to her fifth Olympics, having previously won gold at the Barcelona Olympics, silver at Atlanta and bronze at Sydney. Barbara won her first world championship title at the age of 20 and dominated the world windsurfing rankings for the past 21 years. A role model for all New Zealanders, she now has two children as well as being a professional athlete and working for her sponsors. In addition, she travels New Zealand giving motivational speaking presentations, or works overseas in her role with the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee. Windsurfing is an exciting but challenging sport, and Barbara’s years of experience in racing and tactics, and her knowledge of weather conditions and windsurfing equipment play a big part in her success. But the most important factor of all is her desire and drive to win, and managing the psychology of winning has been her biggest challenge.
Barbara Kendall went to her fifth Olympics this year. She's 40 and it's incredible that she's still competing, let alone winning, when most of her competitors are in their 20s. It's a harsh environment, and a gruelling physical challenge. Her years of experience in racing, tactics, knowledge about wind and tide conditions, equipment and board handling skills play a big part in her success. But the most important factor of all, is her desire to win. Managing the psychology of winning has been the most challenging aspect of staying at the top. Barbara won Gold at the Barcelona Olympics, Silver at Atlanta and Bronze at Sydney. A campaign for an Olympic Games takes Barbara at least three years. She keeps her fitness up by running, swimming, yoga, working out at the gym and windsurfing every day she can. She competes in numerous windsurfing events to keep her world ranking up as well as maintaining a media presence for her sponsors. She now has two young children to care for as well. Barbara travels around the country to give motivational speaking presentations to earn a living, works for her sponsors, or heads back overseas to meet with the Athlete's Commission of the International Olympic Committee for a few days. This is the inspiring story of how Barbara, a golden girl New Zealanders love, got to the top and how she manages to stay there.
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