Hannah Mills is renowned not only for her exceptional skill, but also for her dedication to promoting inclusivity and environmental sustainability. As the most successful women’s Olympic sailor of all time, with two gold medals and a silver in the 470 two-person dinghy class, Mills’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
Her early career was marked by significant achievements, beginning with her win at the British Optimist National Championship in 2001, a triumph that earned her the title of UK Youth Sailor of the Year. This early success set the stage for her future accomplishments, including becoming a three-time world champion in the 420 class in 2006, and the 470 class in 2012 and 2019.
While Mills retired from Olympic sailing in 2021, she now serves as the strategist for the Great Britain SailGP crew today, competing aboard the team’s F50 foiling catamaran in a global championship that is revolutionising the perception of sailing.
Beyond her sailing prowess, Mills has dedicated herself to improving inclusivity within the sport. In 2022, she launched the Athena Pathway programme, where she serves as chief executive officer. Driven by the pillars of People, Planet, and Purpose, the programme aims to create equal opportunities both on and off the water in professional sailing.
Its ambitions are nothing short of historic: to win the first Women’s America’s Cup and retain the Youth America’s Cup for Britain. Mills will helm the British boat in the Women’s America’s Cup, which is scheduled for Barcelona this September.
However, Mills’ commitment extends beyond the realm of sports. She is a fervent advocate for environmental sustainability.
As a SailGP ambassador for sustainable development, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) sustainability ambassador, and the founder of the Big Plastic Pledge in 2019, Mills has led initiatives to eradicate single-use plastic in and beyond sports. She co-founded Athletes of the World, an athlete group campaigning for positive impact around climate change.
“It is not enough to be exceptional at one’s sport. You have to understand the responsibility that goes with it, particularly the importance of inspiring young people. Everyone needs to be inspired by something or someone to achieve their potential. It is incredibly powerful for young girls and women to have someone to look up to.”
Hannah Mills on being a role model
“Within the Rolex family, I am drawn to marine biologist Sylvia Earle, whom I met at a SailGP event in San Francisco. Her achievements are phenomenally inspirational to me. I look at how many people have helped me over the years and to be given a platform, where I am able to speak passionately on the things I care about both on and off the water, is a real privilege. “Within sailing, my priority is to really push the opportunities for women, particularly in professional sailing, in SailGP and the America’s Cup, through the Athena Pathway programme. I want young girls to see all the opportunities the sport has to offer throughout and to want to stay in the sport. It offers so much in terms of building independence and confidence.
“Another priority is maximising the potential of the sport to bring about change and push the climate-change agenda faster. We have such a pivotal communication platform in sport to help this process,” explains Mills.
In recognition of her contributions to sailing and the environment, Mills has received numerous accolades. She won the Rolex World Sailor of the Year award in 2016 and again in 2021. Her services to sailing earned her a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours list and later, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2021.
Becoming a Rolex Testimonee in 2022 marked a significant milestone in Mills’ career. “I love the foundations upon which Rolex has been built, how it has grown and is managed. It is inspirational. To be recognised as an athlete, an advocate for women and sustainability, and as someone that a brand as iconic as Rolex would like to be part of its family is a huge honour,” she says.
Her journey with Rolex began with the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award, following her gold medal win at the Rio Olympic Games. “I was really lucky to win the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award in 2016 after the Rio Olympic Games, where I won my first gold medal with my crewmate and very good friend Saskia Clark, with whom I had also taken silver at London in 2012. I was presented with a stunning Rolex Yacht-Master at the awards. Going from the disappointment of London to the success at Rio was a massive journey. So much went into it, and to be recognised at the Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards was really special.”
Mills’ second Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games came under vastly different circumstances. “It was such a different campaign, given everything that happened. I was pushing other projects, including sustainability, as well as having a new sailing partner and dealing with the impact of the pandemic.
“The journey to gold was a very different one, and so to win another Rolex Yacht-Master at the World Sailor of the Year Award in 2021 was an amazing reminder of everything we put into it.”
The 36-year-old British sailor acknowledges the impact of Rolex’s enduring partnership with yachting, celebrating its 65th year in 2023. “I believe Rolex’s long-term involvement in sailing is brilliant for the sport. The longevity of any partnership shows authenticity and a true relationship that goes beyond any commercial objectives. Rolex is an exceptionally credible and inspirational brand. To associate itself for such a long period with a sport like sailing is invaluable.”
Encompassing partnerships with prestigious clubs, races, and regattas worldwide, Rolex’s association with yachting is indeed extensive. The brand’s support of events like the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, and the SailGP global championship underscores its commitment to excellence and passion for the sport.
Mills’ journey, marked by unparalleled success, unwavering commitment to inclusivity, and a profound dedication to environmental sustainability, continues to inspire many. As she prepares to lead the British boat in the Women’s America’s Cup, her story remains a testament to the power of perseverance, responsibility, and the drive to make a difference both on and off the water.
