ELLIE ALDRIDGE

Hometown: Poole, Dorset  

Instagram: @elliealdridge  

Key Achievements:  

1 x SailGP Championship Win 

1 x Olympic Gold, Formula Kite, Paris 2024  

1 x Formula Kite European Champion, 2023  

1 x Silver medallist, World Formula Kite Championships, 2023  

 

Ellie Aldridge embarked on her sailing journey straight out of school in 2016, immersing herself in the competitive world of 49erFX racing. Two years on the global circuit laid the foundation for her next challenge – the exhilarating realm of Kite Foiling, the fastest sport in the Olympics.  

In 2018, Aldridge decided to join a new talent ID programme, Kite4Gold, which was created to identify and develop potential medallists in the new Formula Kite class. Starting from scratch, Aldridge ascended the ranks, capitalizing on her sailing knowledge and a relentless thirst for speed. She consistently graced the podium at World Championships before becoming European Champion in 2023 – securing her spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.  

Paris 2024 was the first time the sport had been included in the Olympics, and Aldridge made history by becoming the inaugural gold medallist. Fresh from her Olympic victory, Aldridge joined the Athena Pathway Women’s America’s Cup team in Barcelona, supporting the sailing team and gaining knowledge of the AC40 race boats. Aldridge then joined the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team ahead of the 2025 Season and has a dedicated training programme with time on-board the F50 at events in various roles, she has also taken on the responsibility of the reserve female athlete for the entire SailGP fleet.