Together, Championing Gender Equity in Sailing
BARCELONA and LONDON, May 24, 2024 – Athena Pathway, the groundbreaking UK program established by the world’s most decorated Olympic sailors, Hannah Mills (OBE) and Sir Ben Ainslie (CBE), is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with British performance eyewear brand SunGod. This collaboration builds on SunGod’s longstanding support for the INEOS Britannia, British America’s Cup Senior Team and Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, and is set to add a dynamic new facet to a relationship built on a shared ethos of pushing boundaries in sport, both on and off the field of play.
As Athena Pathway prepares to make history in the inaugural 2024 Puig Women’s America’s Cup regatta and retain the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup for Britain, the collaboration with SunGod signals a shared vision of driving positive change within sailing, sport and beyond. With a team comprising multiple female Olympians, off-shore sailors and the brightest youth talents from Great Britain, Athena Pathway is set to level the playing field in high-performance sailing and champion gender equity in sport.
This mission of creating a long-term, equitable pathway in high-performance sailing sits in perfect alignment with SunGod's commitment to "See Better". Since its inception in 2013, SunGod has emerged as a global leader in high-octane eyewear, boasting partnerships with elite athletes and teams worldwide. Athena Pathway can rely on clear vision on and off the water with SunGod’s cutting-edge anti-fog technology and 8KO® lenses, which offer the same optical clarity as the surface of the human eye.
“Bringing SunGod onboard to support our team is a game-changer” Mills commented. “Having the support of a leading British eyewear brand that shares our commitment to excellence, innovation and the environment is unparalleled. We can’t wait to represent SunGod in the first-ever Women’s America’s Cup and the Youth America’s Cup this year”.
The partnership highlights the shared dedication of both Athena Pathway and SunGod to sustainability and social responsibility, and a commitment to changing perceptions and inspiring the future. SunGod, recognised as a certified B Corp™️ and a 1% For The Planet member, with carbon-neutral products and operations, brings invaluable expertise in fostering environmentally conscious practices within the sporting industry. Alongside her role as Team Principal of Athena Pathway, Mills serves as an International Olympic Committee Sustainability Ambassador, spearheading initiatives such as the Big Plastic Pledge and co-founding Athletes of the World, an organisation focused on using the influence of sport to advocate for climate action. Together, they will aim to create history, change perceptions and inspire the future.
Emma Jackson, Head of Partner Activation, said, “‘We’re so excited to be partnering with Athena Pathway as they look to win the first ever Puig Women’s America’s Cup and retain the UniCredit Youth America’s Cup. Their commitment to championing gender equity and levelling the playing field in high-performance sailing aligns perfectly with our mission to ‘See Better’, and we are unified through our shared dedication to making the world a better place by adopting sustainable practices. We can’t wait to support Athena Pathway during the America's Cup and beyond.”
The future is bright, and with SunGod, our vision is clear. Athena Pathway and SunGod unite to shape a future where performance, purpose, and passion drive equality for high-performance athletes worldwide.