Emilia Tsoulfa
Aimilia Tsoulfa (also Emilia Tsoulfa, Greek Αιμιλία Τσουλφά, born May 15, 1973 in Athens ) is a Greek sailor. It was four times with her many years of sailing partner Sofia Bekatorou world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the boot of the 470 class dinghies. Tsoulfa is - together with Bekatorou - two-time winner of the prestigious award Weltseglerin of the year (ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year ), the International Sailing Federation (2002 and 2004).
Tsoulfa has at least temporarily retired from the sport of sailing, because she got a child in 2006.
Tsoulfa sailed for the Sailing Club of Piraeus (Greece).
Biography
Aimilia Tsoulfa grew up in Athens. She studied in Athens sport and then worked as a physical education teacher or sports teacher. Her brother Theodoros Tsoulfas (partly Theodore Tsoulfas, Greek Θεόδωρος Τσουλφάς ) is also a successful sailor who competes in the mid-1990s in the boot of the 470 dinghy class and now in the Star class; his successes so far are not sufficient, however, approach the superior world-class level of his sister.
Due to their Olympic gold medal in 2004 Tsoulfa the rank of lieutenant of the Greek army was awarded. At the rank of all the Greek athletes are carried, the win a sixth or better place in the Olympic Games; the athletes are not used to the military services but will receive by awarding a salary from the Greek government. Moreover, in 2005, the EFG Euro Ergasias sponsor of Tsoulfa and their sailing partner Bekatorou.
2005 Tsoulfa adopted the proposed and organized by Bekatorou Grecotel dream race in part on the Greek island of Mykonos. The event, from 14 to 17 August 2005 was the advertising and support the sport of sailing to Mykonos and found three young yachtsmen of the island each a scholarship and a boat available. The event was sailed with four Greek and four international groups. In the message list stood beside Bekatorou, Tsoulfa and her brother Theodoros Tsoulfa also several participants of the America's Cup.
Tsoulfa lives in Athens, in 2006 their first child - a daughter - to the world. Aimilia Tsoulfa speaks her Greek mother tongue English and French.
Seglerischer career
With twelve years Tsoulfa started in the Optimist sailing. At age 13, she took a boat of this class on her first regatta, the Greek Optimist Championship, in part. Two years later, in 1988 Greek Champion in the boot class of 420 dinghies, a title she defended in two subsequent years.
When Tsoulfa the boot of the 470 class dinghies turned, she was eight Greek champion with these boats since 1994. Two years later Tsoulfa took Katerina Kaloudi part in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and was Seventeenth.
The great successes as a Greek Champion and at international regattas celebrated Tsoulfa as Vorschoterin (that is responsible for the headsail ) with her compatriot Sofia Bekatorou. In 1998 they won the bronze medal at the European Championships and the World Cup. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney ( Australia) they were only 14, but in the same year they started one in the 470 class unparalleled to this day winning streak: Tsoulfa and Bekatorou were four -time world champions in a row ( 2000-2003) and three -time European champions ( 2000-2002) in succession.
Less than 100 days after a health-related training interruption of Bekatorou took Tsoulfa and Bekatorou 2004 at the Olympic Games in Athens. With wins in five individual races and a big point lead, the two last ( eleventh ) individual races had not even compete and won confidently with 24 points ahead of the gold medal. Overnight, they were in her hometown of Athens heroines, and at the end of the games they were honored with the fact that they were allowed to extinguish the Olympic flame. As for other Greek gold medalist also a stamp was (together Tsoulfa and Bekatorou ) issued with their picture; Tsoulfa was also one of the medal winners in 2005 one of the winners of the Olympic Flame for the 2006 Winter Olympics, which she brought to the Greek resort Tymfristos Velouchi on the mountain.
2002 and 2004 were Tsoulfa and Bekatorou together for their sailing performance for Weltseglerin of the year ( since 2001 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards ) nominated. In 2001 they were nominated for the award.
Tsoulfa has retired from the sport of sailing due to the birth of her child and is therefore also not take part in the 2008 Olympic Games. She has not yet decided whether they want to end their career for good.