Barbara Kendall has been New Zealand's golden girl of boardsailing since she won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics . Her wonderful smile, her achievements and her ability to push through the pain barrier has endeared her to all New Zealanders.

The first "Kendall" New Zealanders were aware of was brother Bruce who won Olympic gold in boardsailing. The story goes that Barbara took took up boardsailing in 1984, when she was 17, as a “fun way to see the world”. Barbara had been a keen dancer until boardsailing came along.

In 1987, Barbara decided to join the professional boardsailing circuit, finishing eighth in her first year. She was fourth in 1989 and improved to second in 1990. In 1992 she stunned the world by winning the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It was New Zealand’s only gold medal of those Games and she was the first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal since Yvette Williams 40 years earlier.

Barbara had almost given up on Barcelona when she suffered a broken wrist early in 1992. Fortunately, the Olympic trials were delayed, giving her time to recover and prepare herself, often by training with brother Bruce and other men.

To prove it was no fluke Barbara went on to win silver at Atlanta in 1996. And bronze at Sydney in 2000. This makes her one of only three New Zealanders to have won medals at three separate Olympics the other two being Mark Todd and Simon Dickie.

Barbara has also dominated boardsailing at world championship level, winning in 1998, 99 and, 2002. The 2002 title, won in Thailand, was the most remarkable. By then Kendall was aged 36. She had married Shayne Bright in 1993 and their daughter, Samantha, was born in August 2001. Fifteen months later Kendall was world champion again.

In 2003, still coached by Grant Beck she finished second in the world championships to earn a place in the 2004 Athens Olympics and retain her mantle as the Golden Girl of New Zealand sport. Despite a number of unfortunate mishaps Barbara finished a credible fifth in Athens.

Barbara has undertaken various roles on behalf of her sport over the years, including being a Sports Ambassador for Sport and Recreation New Zealand, and for a time being an official New Zealand boardsailing coach.

She has earned all sorts of honours. She has won a multitude of national boardsailing titles, been named New Zealand Sailor of the Year in 1992 and 98, and won the Halberg Award as Sportswoman of the Year in 1996, 98, 99, 2000 and 2002. She won the Lonsdale Cup in 1999. Kendall was the New Zealand team’s flag-bearer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 1992 Barbara was awarded an MBE for services to windsurfing

Barbara's Topics for Speaking include

- Achievement & Inspiration

- Entertaining & Humour

- Lifestyle & Health

- Motivation

- Attitudes of Success

Testimonials Corporate Occasions where Barbara has Spoken

"Barbara is a relaxed humorous speaker who naturally captured the audience."
Ralph Little, ASB Bank

"Barbara fitted into our function just perfectly. The feedback we have received has been superb. Barbara was a thrill to work with. The audience loved her and really responded to her."
Jennifer Sinclair, NZIM Southland Branch

"Barbara was relaxed and humorous yet still had a good structure so people came away with key learning points that were as applicable to the work environment as to the sporting area." Jenny Tudhope, Price Waterhouse Coopers