Mercedes-Benz supports young sailor in Olympic bid
Mercedes-Benz has extended its involvement in the sport of sailing and is set to support talented 19-year-old Howth Yacht Club member, Aoife Hopkins, as she prepares her challenge to qualify for Ireland’s team at the forthcoming 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
This arrangement sees Mercedes-Benz retain its status as the only vehicle manufacturer supporting Ireland’s bid for further Olympic glory in the Laser Radial class.
From Howth, Aoife has been sailing since she was just 9 years old. She is currently Women’s Laser Radial Irish national champion and under-21 European champion, following her success in winning gold at the 2017 European championships in France.
Daughter of Niamh and Troy Hopkins, Aoife hails from a family in which her father and brother, Daniel, currently sail Lasers while her other brother, Conor, formerly took part in the sport, all at Howth. A former student of Santa Sabina school in Sutton, she is now a first year maths student under a sports scholarship at Trinity College Dublin.
Commenting, Aoife said: “I am delighted to have the support of Mercedes-Benz whose involvement in sailing ensures that my preparations for Tokyo are off to a flying start”.
Aoife has taken delivery of a 181-registered Vito Mixto which she will use to transport her team, herself and her equipment to events, here in Ireland and overseas. Fitted with features fit for a sailing star, specifications include a leatherette interior, leather multi-function steering wheel, interior chrome package, air conditioning, audio 15 sound system, a reverse camera and more. It will have an eye-catching presence at sailing events throughout Ireland and beyond thanks to its subtle, yet, eye-catching silver and grey livery.
Wishing her every success in her preparations for Tokyo, Fergus Conheady, sales manager for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles told Aoife: “we are proud to support another of Ireland’s amazing young sailors and wish them every success as they challenge to be the sole competitor in the Laser Radial class to qualify to represent Ireland”.
