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John Bertrand would have you believe that his main claim to fame is that he is a proud Australian.
To his fellow Australians he is much more.
He is the Australian who skippered the winged keel Australia 2 to victory over Dennis Connor’s Liberty to win the 1983 America's Cup, breaking 132 years of American domination and in the process, breaking the longest-running record in the history of modern sport. The comeback from 3-1 down and the final race victory, billed as the race of the century, transfixed the nation.
Australia's prime minister of the time, Bob Hawke, declared the win to be "one of the greatest moments in Australian history."
In the bi-centennial year of 1988, the Confederation of Australian Sport voted the Australia 2 victory as the “greatest team performance in 200 years of Australian sport”
A World Champion and Olympic medallist, John represented Australia in five America's Cups and two Olympic Games. In over 25 years of America’s Cup campaigning, he was involved in all areas of activity…from skipper of Australia 2 to Chairman of OneAustralia.
Australia conferred a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on John in 1985. His biography published in 1985, was at the time the largest-selling biography in Australian publishing history. .
John is both a businessman and philanthropist.
He is co-owner and Chairman of World Wide Entertainment, one of Australia’s largest independent television production and distribution companies. The company exports television shows and digital media content to 150 countries worldwide.
John is chairman of Sport Australia Hall of Fame of which the Prime Minister is Patron-in-Chief,
chairman of selectors of the Australian Olympic Sailing Team
and chairman of the Alannah and Madeline children’s Foundation of which Princess Mary of Denmark has recently become International Patron.
John holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Monash University and a Master of Science degree from MIT in Boston.
He is a life member of both the International America's Cup Hall of Fame and Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
John’s love of sailing continues. He actively competes at the highest level within the International Etchell class.
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