Oct. 15, 2011
NORFOLK, VA-- Three-Time All-American and 2005 Quantum Collegiate Sailor of the Year Anna Tunnicliffe-Funk was awarded the ODU Outstanding Achievement Award Friday, Oct. 14th at the Alumni Association Honorsevening.
Tunnicliffe is the skipper for the U.S. Olympic squad; The U.S. Sailing Team,Alphagraphics; and Team Tunnicliffe, also known as Team Maclaren, in the Match Racing class.
Born in Doncaster, England, Tunnicliffe immigrated to the United States at age12. She joined the Cape Yacht Club in La Salle, Mich., and soon established herselfas a top skipper.
At 13, Tunnicliffe became- and remains- the youngest helm on record at the RolexWomen's International Keelboat Regatta. Recruited by colleges to run track andfield, and cross country, she chose instead to attend ODU, where she credits hercoaches and team for the opporunity and training she needed to pursue her goal-to bring home an Olympic medal.
After finishing fourth in the 2003 U.S. Olympic trails in Europe, she qualified in2007 in China and in 2008, brought home the first U.S. women's Olympic gold medalin sailing in 20 years.
In 2010 Tunnicliffe became the first woman ever named three times as the RolexYachtswoman of the Year. she is one of four women's - division finalists for the2011 ISAF rolex World Sailor of the year award, the sport's ultimate recognitionof individual achievement.
From her home in florida, where she lives with her husband, training partner andformer ODU sailing All-American Brad Funk, she has her eye on a new prize- the2012 Olympic games.