Sofia Bekatorou

Sofia Bekatorou is one of the most successful female Greek Olympic sailors. In 2008, Sofia participated for the third time in her international career in the Olympic games in Beijing. With her new team Sofia Papadopoulou and Virginia Kravarioti sailing the Yngling class, she won the bronze Olympic medal. Sofia is 31 years old, married to Andreas Kosmatopoulos, also Olympic sailor and World Champion. At just 19 years old Sofia together with Emilia Tsoulfa joined the 470 class as a team and aimed winning the Gold medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000. Sofia and Emilia where able to sail again and win the Gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games with one race to spare. As a recognition to their obvious triumph, they were chosen to put off the Olympic flame in the Closing ceremony at the Olympic Games.They were also honored for the second time with the 2004 ISAF Rolex sailing award. In March 2008 the Hellenic sailing federation confirmed their final team with Virginia Kravarioti. Sofia and her team with only few time left made huge progress. Their goal was clear: Challenge an Olympic medal. And they did it: bringing back home to the 10.000.000 Greeks fans the Olympic bronze medal, the first Greek medal during the Games. (including every sport)! Sofia still remains the only female tactician in the Farr 40 fleet.

Website: http://www.bekatorou.com/