It’s been an incredible 12 months for Volvo Ocean Racer Santi Lange.
The Argentinian made history by scooping gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics – becoming the oldest medallist at the Games, a remarkable achievement given that he lost part of a lung to cancer less than a year before it.
It wasn’t Lange’s first Olympic medal – he scored bronze at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games – but it was his most memorable, and it led to him being awarded the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award.
A fervent role-model for the sport of sailing, he has achieved remarkable success and demonstrated how it’s possible to turn adversity into a success through determination and courage.
With a sharp and intuitive mind and a warm approach, he is an inspiration to sailors of all ages across the world.
I remember Magnus as a person that loved his sport and loved the sea, and always had a big smile on his face
Santi Lange
So it’s fitting that he’s been awarded the prestigious Magnus Olsson Prize – an award made every year in honour of Mange, a highly respected six-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran, fan favourite, and all-round nice guy, who sadly passed away in 2013.
© Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race
“I met Magnus a few times, especially during Volvo Ocean Race 2008–2009 when he was skipper on Ericsson 3 and I sailed on Telefonica Black,” Santi recalls.
“I remember him as a person that loved his sport and loved the sea, and always had a big smile on his face. It was fantastic what he did with Ericsson and his team of young inexperienced sailors.”
So, what’s next on the agenda for Lange? Well, in true Volvo Ocean Race style, he’s looking to #thefuture.
“My next big goal is the Olympics in Tokyo 2020,” he admits. “I will be 59 years old. I’m not sure I will make it – but it’s my dream.
“My Olympic gold team-mate, Cecilia Carranza Saroli will try again but in the next Olympic Nacra will be foiling – so now we must learn to foil.”
He’s not the only one. On Thursday, the Volvo Ocean Race unveiled the next-generation designs for a turbocharged foil-assisted offshore monohull in the edition after 2017-18 – and an ultra fast flying multihull for inshore.
