Interview with Shirley Robertson OBE - Popular podcast returns with more 'Island Stories'
by Harriet Hadfield 3 Feb 2023 08:32 UTC
Interview with Shirley Robertson OBE © Alex Warren
The popular Island Stories Podcast series is back this week with a first episode interview with double gold-medallist Shirley Robertson OBE - the Isle of Wight's most decorated Olympian.
Hosted by journalist Harriet Hadfield and produced by Alex Warren, episodes from the first series of The Island Stories Podcast were downloaded more than 3,000 times - by listeners across the UK and from around the world.
Shirley, who has lived here for more than two decades, chats about her life in Cowes including raising her teenage twins on the Island.
She was the first woman to win consecutive Olympic gold medals - in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
She's now well-known to sports fans as a prominent sailing commentator for the BBC and other broadcasters, as well as hosting her own podcast 'Sailing with Shirley Robertson' which is essential listening for fans around the world.
She says of her move here: "I immediately felt like the Island wrapped a warm arm around me, and became part of my life."
And of her home overlooking the water: "Eating breakfast on the deck, looking out on a view which is always different, night and day, it's so busy and hectic, the Solent, I absolutely love that."
One of the original '3 blondes in a boat' Shirley reflects on how much things have changed in terms of how we talk about women in the media, and how much work the sport of sailing still has to do for gender equality.
She tells the podcast: "I mean, the only thing they could say about us was about our hair colour?! It's shocking isn't it?
"It still goes on and sailing is a long way from gender equality, it's one of the worst sports. I often feel I could have done more, I could have said more or stood up to people... why didn't I raise my hand and say how is this acceptable?
"Sailing is changing, it's not as bad as it was, there is a better awareness."
You can listen to episodes of the Island Stories Podcast via all good podcast platforms - follow the links at bio.site/islandstories