Sofia Bekatorou
Sofia Bekatorou, since her marriage actually Sofia Bekatorou - Kosmatopoulou (Greek Σοφία Μπεκατώρου - Κοσματοπούλου, born December 26, 1977 in Athens ) is a Greek Regattaseglerin.
In the boot of the 470 class dinghies she was with her long-time sailing partner Aimilia Tsoulfa four -time world champion and Olympic gold medalist. Bekatorou was for these services - together with Tsoulfa - double the prestigious award Weltseglerin of the year (ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year ), the International Sailing Federation awarded.
Since 2006 Bekatorou takes with changing Mitseglerinnen in part on a Yngling keelboat regattas. After a third place at the 2007 European Championship they won in 2008, with Virginia Kravarioti and Sofia Papadopoulou, a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in China.
Bekatorou sails for the Nautical Club of Tzitzifies in Kallithea (Greece).
Biography
Sofia Bekatorou was born in Athens. She attended the 1997-1998 technical engineering school in Piraeus, then studied for two years in Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. From 2000 to 2004 she studied psychology at the Panteion University of Athens, also worked as a sailing instructor.
Sailing - including training of other sailors and committee memberships (eg member of the International Sailing Federation 2000-2006) - makes up the bulk of Bekatorous activities. In 2005 she organized the Grecotel dream race 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.
In addition Bekatorou is also otherwise - especially sporty - active. In 2001 she ran with a marathon. As hobbies besides running calls Bekatorou cycling, skiing, dancing and cooking. In 2006 she took part in a campaign in which Olympic gold medalist money collected for abused women.
Bekatorou speaks her Greek mother tongue German ( Intermediate examination of the Goethe Institute ), English ( First Certificate of Cambridge International Examinations ) as well as French and Spanish.
Bekatorou lives in Athens and is with Andreas Kosmatopoulos ( born September 26, 1968) married, which is a world champion in the 470 class itself.
Seglerischer career: the beginning and 470 career
With eight years Bekatorou started in the Optimist sailing. The following year she took a boat of this part in their first regatta and won for another year its first race victory, also with an Optimist. In the following years they expanded their sailing experience and successes ever further.
Her first major international competition contested Bekatorou with a yacht when she on a 40 ILC participated in the World Championships in Greece in 1994.
Her achievements, however, she won in the boot of the 470 class dinghies: Eight times she was in Greek champion. They usually sailed (in charge of the headsail that is ) Aimilia Tsoulfa with her compatriot and Vorschoterin. 1998 won the two Greek women in the 470 class at the European Championships and the World Cup third place.
In 2000 she took part in the Olympic Games in Sydney ( Australia) and were Fourteenth. In the same year she began a winning streak that today is unprecedented in the 470 class: Bekatorou and Tsoulfa were four -time world champions in a row ( 2000-2003 ) and three -time European champions (2000-2002) in a row.
Less than 100 days before the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens had Bekatorou the World Championship in Zadar ( Croatia) cancel and return for an urgent back surgery to Athens. It was considered almost certain that Bekatorou therefore can not participate in the games would. However, despite the interruption of training Bekatorou and Tsoulfa succeeded in the class of 470 not only participation, but also an outstanding success: After winning five individual races and a big point lead, the Greeks took the last ( eleventh ) single race not even start and gained sovereign with 24 points ahead of the gold medal. Bekatorou and Tsoulfa were in their hometown of Athens overnight heroes and were honored at the end of the Olympic Games so that they could extinguish the Olympic flame. As for other Greek gold medalist also a stamp was issued with their picture ( Bekatorou and Tsoulfa shared).
2002 and 2004 were Bekatorou and Aimilia Tsoulfa for its 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.
Seglerischer career: Yachts, including Yngling
Bekatorou remained active in yachting. In 2001 she won as a strategist of the Siemens team the Vice World Champion title with an IMS 600 2005 launched as a strategist and tactician, a Farr 40 ( the Atalanti ) and a TP 52 second places in regattas off Florida or in front of Punta Ala ( Tuscany) in the Mediterranean. In 2005, she also participated in a TP -52 regatta skipper Paul Cayard successful under the front of Key West.
After eight years of sailing partnership Bekatorou and Tsoulfa in the 470 class, Tsoulfa pulled due to a pregnancy, at least temporarily withdrew from the sport of sailing. Bekatorou has since turned completely the keel yachts. In the ISAF Match Racing Regatta evaluated Athens Mecca Match Race of the yacht clubs Greece, she won the first place.
In addition Bekatorou began with the Greek sailors Aliki Kourkoulou ( Αλίκη Κούρκουλου ) and Sofia Papadopoulou ( Σοφία Παπαδοπούλου ) to train on a Yngling keelboat. In February 2006, they won their first victory and sailed for the remaining year on ISAF evaluated races in 12th place ( HRH Princess Sofia Trophy in front of Palma de Mallorca) and 18th place ( Holland Regatta Medemblik in North Holland).
End of February 2007, Bekatorou the Yngling with Papadopoulou and now Christina Charamountani ( Χριστίνα Χαραμουντάνη ) to victory at the Athens Eurolymp Week ( 19 to 24 February 2007). On the now renamed Breitling Regatta former Holland Regatta, the trio arrived at No. 8, at the 2007 World Championships in Cascais, Portugal it reached the 16th place. The highlight of the year came on, the three sailors in September with 3rd place in the Yngling European Championship in Warnemünde.
In winter 2008, the season of the three Greek women in the same place began slowly, with a 17th place finish at the Rolex Regatta Miami Miami ORC before and a few days later a 14th place finish at the Yngling World Championship, but for the last four qualifying spots sufficed for the 2008 Olympic Games in China. A tenth place ersegelte Bekatorou in the ( non- European sailors open ) 2008 European Championship in the Spanish Blanes with Sofia Papadopoulou and Virginia Kravarioti who had secured at the Olympic Games in Europe Platz 9, 2004.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Qingdao Yngling competition, Bekatorou, Papadopoulou and Kravarioti (5th race) were in the race after an initial 10th and 12th place up to a second place to improve and eventually won the bronze medal.