Columbus School 11th grader and world class sailor Carolina Penagos participated in the Sunfish World Championships November 17-20 in Cartagena finishing in 23rd place in the youth category.

Penagos participated in the 2016 Sunfish World Championship, a distinguished competition in which over 65 of the best international sailors raced in the waters off Cartagena. These regattas are extremely competitive and physically demanding, but the young sailor finished 23rd. 

“Carolina is a sailor who gives Sunfish and Laser her all. She keeps moving forward no matter the circumstances and she stays focused, which is why she has become an distinguished sailor,” said Juan Sebastian Martinez, a sailor on Colombia’s national team.

Penagos and is currently ranked as the 50th best Sunfish sailor in the world and the number one female youth sailor in the country.

To achieve this position, Penagos has had to sacrifice many aspects of her life to devote her time to intense training. In 2014, the sailor left her school in her hometown of Medellín to move to Cartagena, where the sailing opportunities were much greater. To prepare for the Sunfish World Championship, she has trained with her coach continuously for the past two years.

“For her young age, Carolina has demonstrated an outstanding potential. If her enthusiasm and dedication continues, she will succeed as a world class sailor,” Penagos’ coach Pablo Sanguinetti said.

Penagos became interested in sailing when she was only 4 years old. Since she started competing in the Sunfish and Laser categories, she has participated in many championships, including the prestigious Orange Bowl Regatta 2012, The Sunfish Youth World Championships and the Sailing World Championship 2016.

“My favorite thing about sailing is how empowering it is to be able to, with your strength and capacity, make the sailboat move forward. I think that it is amazing to see how your body is capable of making the sailboat and the water connect,” said sailor Carolina Penagos.

In the future, Penagos plans to compete in the Laser World Championship and in the Sailing World Championship to achieve her ultimate goal of attending the Olympic Games. After she graduates from high school, the sailor hopes to attend a college in the US that offers the possibility of joining a great sailing team and pursuing her academic goals.

“ I have interests in various areas other than sailing like, for example, science and math. However, my ultimate dream is to be an exceptional sailor and to do what I love, ” said Penagos.