Ad Astra sailing ace Eve McMahon is first Irish sailor to be No.1 in the world rankings

16 June 2025

Ad Astra Elite Sport Scholar Eve McMahon is sailing’s World Number One, becoming the first Irish sailor to ever achieve the top spot in the world rankings.

The 21-year-old BComm student’s rise comes off the back of her impressive bronze medal performance at the ILCA World Championships in May and a standout showing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Her third-place finish in the women's ILCA 6 in China was the first time an Irish female sailor medalled at a senior world championship.

The Howth Yacht Club sailor previously held the 12th position in the (opens in a new window)World Sailing rankings.

“For Eve to reach World Number One at just 21 years of age is exceptional. It proves, once again, that Ireland consistently punches above its weight on the international stage in sailing,” said James O’Callaghan, Performance Director at Irish Sailing.

The World Sailing Rankings for Olympic classes are administered by World Sailing and are updated approximately nine times a year, aligned with the international competition calendar.

The Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship programme at University College Dublin supports students who are competing and succeeding at the highest sporting levels.

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations

To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie