Jolly Allison

American sailor who, with her sailing partner Lynne Jewell, won the gold medal in the 470 Class event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Jolly and Jewell were the only American sailors, male or female, to win a gold medal in the games. Their victory helped to promote the involvement of more women in sailing competitions. Jolly began sailing at age 10 and attended the Florida State University where she won the National Collegiate sailing championships in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, at the age of 20, she became the youngest woman ever to win the Yachtswoman of the Year Award from the New York Yacht Club, "considered the top prize in yachting." Jolly continues her sailing passion working at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus as a sailing coach for the Womens Varsity team. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less