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Evergreen boardsailor Barbara Kendall has been inducted into sailing's hall of fame ahead of her fifth Olympic campaign in China next year.
Kendall, who has a boxed set of Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals, was added to the hall of fame at a function in Portugal.
"I'm quite blown away by it. It makes you sit down and think 'Golly, I've had a pretty amazing career for the last 20 years. Being at the top of the world for the last 20 years in a competitive Olympic class'," Kendall told Radio Sport.
The announcement was a surprise because Kendall was focused on preparing for China - and the major lead-up event, the world championships off Takapuna in January.
"I'm training full on so you're always looking forward - things like this really make you look back and go 'wow'."
Kendall has recently returned to the water after a break to continue rebuilding her fitness base before the world championships.
It is the latest in a long list of accolades for the mother of two, who has been named New Zealand's sportswoman of the year five times. Kendall will be 40 when she seeks a second Olympic gold next August.
- NZPA
