Swedish sailing icon Pelle Petterson has been announced as winner of the prestigious Magnus ”Mange” Olsson Prize 2022, awarded annually to an individual who has made an indelible contribution to the world of sailing.

Petterson is the first Swede to be awarded the Mange Olsson prize and joins an impressive list of previous recipients which includes some of the biggest names in the sport of sailing: Torben Grael, Sir Ben Ainslie, Stan Honey, Santiago Lange, Grant Dalton, Carolijn Brouwer, Peter Burling and Martine Grael.

For many years Pelle Petterson was one of the best sailors in Sweden. With two Olympic medals in the Star class — one bronze in 1964 and one silver in 1972 — and a further 10 World Championship medals, including one gold in 1969, he was also a top name on the international sailing circuit.

Twice he led a Swedish challenge for the America’́s Cup, in 1977 and 1980, with the boat Sverige — both times with Mange Olsson as a valued team member.

He also raced on board The Card, the Swedish entry in the 1989-90 edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race, predecessor of The Ocean Race.

In addition to being a renowned sailor, Petterson is also a design icon, first and foremost within the marine industry where over 100,000 boats have been produced to his designs, but also in the automotive industry: he created the classic Volvo P1800 sports car. His other design products range from watches to a Stena ferry.

In 2004 he was awarded the KTH, The Royal Institute of Technology prize for his lifelong design work and in 2011 he received the H.M. Konungens, his Majesty the King’s medal for special services.

Petterson is the very first member of the Swedish Sailing Hall of Fame. He can also claim an influence on helping to develop Magnus Olsson into the renowned sailor he would become, after offering him a place as crew on board the Swedish America’s Cup challenger, Sverige in 1977.

New Zealand sailor Peter Burling has been announced as the 2020 winner of the prestigious Magnus Olsson Prize.

Awarded annually by the Mange Olsson Foundation to an individual who has made an indelible contribution to the world of sailing, the prize’s previous recipients include Torben Grael, Sir Ben Ainslie, Stan Honey, Santiago Lange, Grant Dalton and Carolijn Brouwer.

Peter Burling, from Tauranga in New Zealand, is by far the youngest winner of the prize. Despite his young age (29), Burling has an impressive CV, with an Olympic gold and silver medal and nine World Championship titles to his name.

Burling stood out as watch captain and helmsman with Team Brunel in the 2017–18 edition of The Ocean Race, finishing third overall.

The America’s Cup winner has also twice been named as ISAF World Sailor of the Year, most recently in 2017.

“It’s a great honor to be acknowledged by the Mange Olsson Memorial Foundation for this award,” Burling said of the news.

“Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet Magnus but his epic race in Ericssonc 3 in the 2008-09 edition of the Ocean Race definitely inspired my Round the World path.”

Burling is currently preparing to defend the America’s Cup on home waters in March 2021 with teammates Emirates Team New Zealand, quickly followed by the launch of his NZ SailGP team in April and the Tokyo Olympics in August.

This Thursday 26 November, Burling will receive the Magnus Olsson Prize 2020 via a virtual prize-giving event. The ceremony starts at 7pm CET.