Nick Dempsey

Nick Dempsey on RSX kit in 2006.

The UKWA would like to announce final 3rd recipient this year to be accepted into the UKWA Hall of Fame. This lifetime achievement award goes to our most successful olympic windsurfer of all time Nick Dempsey.

Nick was presented with his award at the WPNSA by Sally Reynoldson the WPNSA’s Senior Operations and Sailing Manager. Very fitting as this was the the place he achieved the 1st of his two Silver olympic medals at his home Olympic games.

His achievements in windsurf racing has made Nick a household name. Winning one bronze and two Silver Olympic medals as well as winning Gold at the RSX world championships in 2009 and 2013.

Bob Ingram the UKWA Chairman said

“Nick is an outstanding athlete and a fantastic ambassador for our sport. His success at multiple Olympics underlines his determination and hard work over an almost 20 year Olympic campaign period. It is an honour to have him in our Hall of Fame ”

Nik achieved his first international success at the 1998 Mistral Youth World Championships, where he won the bronze medal. As a senior his first win was clinched at the North Sea Cup Series in Pevensey Bay, and an additional third place in the Kiel Week.

During the 2000 Summer Olympics he finished in 16th position. He continued winning competitions in 2001 and beyond like Athens Eurolymp Week, Kieler Woche and the Spa Regatta before finishing third at the 2004 Summer Olympics to take the windsurfing bronze medal.

When switching to the RS:X class he won race after race, resulting in the first spot on the RS:X world rankings. He took the gold medal at the 2006 RS:X European Championships. At the 2006 RS:X World Championships he finished in 5th position.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics he came 4th in the RS:X Class windsurfing class with 60 points. He was 2 points behind Israeli bronze medalist Shahar Tzuberi.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Dempsey won the silver medal in the RS:X Class windsurfing class, behind Dorian van Rijsselberge of the Netherlands.
In the 2016 Summer Olympics, Dempsey again won the silver in the RS:X Class, again behind van Rijsselberge. With three medals won in the Olympics, he became the most decorated men's Olympic windsurfer.