Russell Coutts
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Russell•Coutts |
| Used name | Russell•Coutts |
| Born | 1 March 1962 in Wellington, Wellington (NZL) |
| Measurements | 179 cm / 85 kg |
| Title(s) | Sir |
| NOC |  New Zealand |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 1 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
Russell Coutts was the second sailor to win both the Olympic gold and the America’s Cup, after Buddy Melges. His Olympic gold came in 1984, winning the Finn class. He was nearly disqualified, as his clothes were sleightly overweight. After three consecutive match racing world titles (1992-1994), Russell Coutts was twice awarded the Sailor of the Year award, in 1995 and 2003.
Coutts was involved with winning America’s Cup teams five times. He was helmsman of Black Magic when New Zealand won the cup off San Diego in 1995, and at the helm again for Team New Zealand’s successful defence against an Italian syndicate off Auckland in 2000. By 2003, he had switched to the Swiss Alinghi syndicate and took the cup from New Zealand. In 2010, he was chief executive of the BMW Oracle syndicate that beat Alinghi in a best-of-three challenge off Valencia to bring the cup back to the United States. In 2013 he again led Oracle Racing as CEO as it won over Emirates Team New Zealand.Coutts was made a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and is now styled Sir Russell Coutts.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Summer Olympics | Sailing | NZL |
Russell Coutts | |||
| One Person Dinghy, Open (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 1992 Summer Olympics | Sailing | NZL |
Russell Coutts | |||
| Three Person Keelboat, Open (Olympic) | New Zealand | 8 |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympic Sailors and the America's Cup (1984 Finn (Gold); Was involved with winning America’s Cup teams five times. He was helmsman of _Black Magic_ when New Zealand won the cup off San Diego in 1995, and at the helm again for _Team New Zealand_’s successful defence against an Italian syndicate off Auckland in 2000. By 2003, he had switched to the Swiss _Alinghi_ syndicate and took the cup from New Zealand. In 2010, he was chief executive of the _BMW Oracle_ syndicate that beat Alinghi in a best-of-three challenge off Valencia to bring the cup back to the United States. In 2013 he again led _Oracle Racing_ as CEO as it won over _Emirates Team New Zealand_.)
- Listed in Olympian Members of the Nobility (Sir)