Hannah Mills

One of the Most Successful Female Sailors of All Time, 3x Olympic Medallist, 2x World Champion & Co-Founder of Athena Pathway Programme & Big Plastic Pledge

Hannah Mills’ Biography:

Hannah Mills is one of Britain’s most decorated sailors, celebrated for winning three Olympic medals, including consecutive gold medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games. A two-time world champion in the 470 class, Hannah is renowned for her resilience, teamwork and leadership under pressure, making her a highly sought-after motivational speaker. Her ability to translate lessons from elite sport into practical insights on performance, sustainability and inclusion has earned her acclaim across the corporate and sporting worlds. Alongside her Olympic success, Hannah is recognised for championing environmental initiatives and opportunities for women and young athletes within sailing.

Hannah’s sailing journey began with the Welsh National Optimist Squad, where she won the British Optimist Championships in 2001. She went on to represent Great Britain at the Optimist World Championships in 2002 and 2003, achieving the best result by a British sailor at the event at the time. Her rise through competitive sailing continued with silver medals at the 2011 Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta and the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta. In 2012, Hannah secured gold at the 470 World Championships before winning Olympic silver in London. She later cemented her legacy with Olympic gold medals in Rio and Tokyo, before joining the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team for the 2021-2022 season. Alongside Sir Ben Ainslie, she also launched Athena Pathway to support female and youth participation in sailing.

Over the course of her career, Hannah has received numerous honours and accolades. She was voted UK Young Sailor of the Year and named BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year early in her career. Later achievements include the Female World Sailor of the Year Award, the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Chichester. In recognition of her contributions to sailing and environmental advocacy, she was appointed an MBE in 2017 and elevated to OBE status in 2022.

Why Hire Hannah Mills?

Hannah Mills OBE is hired as a speaker for her inspiring insights into leadership, teamwork and performing under pressure at the highest level of sport. Drawing upon her experiences as a double Olympic champion and world-class sailor, Hannah delivers engaging talks on resilience, collaboration and achieving long-term success. She is also widely respected for her environmental campaigning through initiatives such as the Big Plastic Pledge and Athletes of the World, offering audiences valuable perspectives on sustainability and social responsibility. Hannah’s engaging storytelling and elite sporting mindset make her an exceptional speaker for conferences, leadership events and corporate audiences.

Hannah Mills’ Career Highlights:

Here are some of the key milestones that define Hannah Mills’ remarkable career:

  • 2022 – Awarded an OBE for services to sailing and the environment.
  • 2021 – Joined the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team for the 2021-2022 season.
  • 2021 – Won the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award following Olympic success.
  • 2021 – Won Olympic gold in the women’s 470 class at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
  • 2019 – Founded Athletes of the World to unite athletes around environmental action.
  • 2019 – Launched the Big Plastic Pledge to tackle single-use plastic pollution in sport.
  • 2017 – Appointed MBE for services to sailing.
  • 2017 – Received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Chichester.
  • 2016 – Won Olympic gold at the Rio Olympic Games and was named Female World Sailor of the Year.
  • 2012 – Won gold at the 470 World Championships before claiming Olympic silver at the London Games.