BIO

Sofia Papadopoulou OLY is a distinguished Olympian and Second Lieutenant of the Hellenic Air Force, having won the Bronze Medal in Sailing in the Yngling class at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She holds a degree in Sports Science and a master’s degree in Olympic Education, Event Organization, and Management of Olympic Events. Sofia is currently pursuing a PhD in Sport Management. Her present work focuses on empowering and promoting women coaches in sailing, reflecting her commitment to advancing gender equality in sports.

Deeply devoted to the core Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship, Sofia embodies these principles through her advocacy for sports, healthy living, culture, and education. Her extensive collaborations with various sports and governmental organizations—including the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, the Hellenic Sailing Federation, the Hellenic Olympic Academy, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the International Olympic Truce Centre, the University of Tsukuba (Japan), the NGO Safe Water Sports, the NGO Youngstars Cyprus, and other national and international bodies—highlight her dedication to the global promotion of these values.

Sofia’s expertise spans high-level coaching in International and Olympic sailing classes, Offshore Sailing, and Para Sailing. She serves as Vice Chair of World Sailing for Regional Games and is a member of the Youth Events Committee (2025–2028). She has also been a distinguished member of World Sailing’s sub-committees for Regional Games and Youth Events (2021–2024). She is a member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee’s Marketing Commission and the head of the “Women in Sailing” program of the Hellenic Sailing Federation. She has the honor of being the first international female sailor selected to participate in the WISH (Women in Sport High Performance Pathway) coaching program. This program, supported by the IOC Olympic Solidarity, World Sailing, the Hellenic Olympic Committee, and the Hellenic Sailing Federation, highlights her pioneering role in sport.

She is the founder of the SailFem project for the empowerment of women sailing coaches. The program was internationally recognized with the Anita White Fund 2023 scholarship by the International Working Group on Women & Sport. Known for her ability to build teams and foster empowering relationships, Sofia excels in high- performance coaching. As a speaker, she draws upon her extensive experience in sports to inspire leadership in the business world and promote success. Sofia continues to leave a lasting legacy—not only as a decorated athlete but also as a devoted advocate of the values embodied by the Olympic Movement.