Leslie Egnot

Who is Leslie Egnot?

Leslie Jean Egnot, ONZM, is an American-born yachtswoman who competed for New Zealand at two Olympic Games and won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Egnot teamed with Jan Shearer in the women's 470 class and finished second behind the Spanish crew.

Egnot and Shearer competed again at 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta finishing 16th. There competitiveness was hampered by an injury Egnot was carrying at the time. Egnot had previously been a reserve for Shearer and Fiona Galloway at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

Egnot reverted to her American passport in 1995 and became one of the first women to helm an America's Cup yacht.

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Egnot was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to yachting.

Egnot's younger sister Jenny Egnot has also represented New Zealand in yachting at the Olympics, competing in the 470 at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.