BARCELONA and LONDON, May 23rd 2024 – We're excited to announce an innovative new partnership with Athena Pathway, the sailing program established by the world’s most decorated Olympic sailors, Hannah Mills (OBE) and Sir Ben Ainslie (CBE).
Athena Pathway is a U.K. programme for female and youth athletes, led by double Olympic Gold Medallist Hannah Mills (OBE). The pathway aims to fast-track development in professional sailing, level the playing field in high-performance foiling, and bring diversity into the sport at its highest level, both on and off the water. Together with Athena Pathway, we'll be pushing boundaries in sport, both on and off the field of play.
This collaboration builds on our longstanding support for elite sailing through INEOS Britannia, the British America’s Cup Senior Team, and Emirates Great Britian SailGP Team. 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, our new collaboration 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. We're excited to provide Athena Pathway with cutting-edge anti-fog technology and 8KO® lenses, which offer the same optical clarity as the surface of the human eye.
Athena Pathway's mission of creating a long-term, equitable pathway in high-performance sailing aligns perfectly with our own mission to See Better: through our products, through our actions and through doing business better. 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.
As a certified B Corp™️ and a 1% For The Planet member, with carbon-neutral products and operations, we're excited to share with Athena Pathway our expertise in fostering environmentally conscious practices within the sporting industry. Alongside her role as Team Principal of Athena Pathway, Hannah 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, we aim to create history, change perceptions and inspire the future.
“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”.
Emma Jackson, Head of Partner Activation at SunGod, 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 together with Athena Pathway, our vision is clear. We're uniting to shape a future where performance, purpose, and passion drive equality for high-performance athletes worldwide.
To keep up to date on Athena Pathway's progress and preparation for this year's Puig Women’s America’s Cup and UniCredit Youth America’s Cup, follow their socials at @athenapathway.
