American sailor Paul Cayard has been named the 2026 recipient of the Magnus Olsson Prize for excellence, sportsmanship, and innovation in sailing.
“I was fortunate enough to meet Magnus and to race with him and against him during our time in the Whitbread and Volvo races in the 90s and 2000s,” Cayard said. “His personality and enthusiasm were magnetic. Magnus was the center of gravity of every boat, every meeting, every project. Whether he was with Heads of State at a formal dinner or with children sailing Optimists, Magnus could hang with them all. I think he is the only person I have ever known who everyone liked, who everyone would say, ‘he made my day better.’ With that in mind, it’s truly an honour to accept the 2026 Magnus Olsson Prize. Thank you, Mange. We are all smiling thinking of you!”
Olsson passed away in 2013 after suffering a stroke at the age of 64.
Cayard’s career has spanned four decades and many classes of boat. He is a two-time Olympian (1984, 2004) and eight-time world champion, including two titles in the Star class 37 years apart. Cayard was recognised as this year’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in part due to his Star class win in 2025.
Not to be confined by LOA, Cayard also skippered EF Language to victory in the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race, becoming the first American skipper to win the event. In the 2005–06 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, he placed second aboard the VO70 Pirates of the Caribbean. He also skippered the Italian America’s Cup challenger Il Moro di Venezia to victory in the 1992 Louis Vuitton Cup. Cayard has also contributed to the progress of American sailing, leading the US Olympic Sailing Team as well working on the development and governance of the sport.
The Prize Ceremony will be held on June 9th in Stockholm, Sweden.
