14 Facts About Jo Aleh

Joanna Ayela Aleh was born on 15 May 1986 and is a New Zealand sailor.

Jo Aleh is a national champion, a former world champion, and an Olympic gold medallist.

Jo Aleh is Jewish, and was born in Auckland, daughter of Israeli father Shuki Shukrun and British-born mother Daniella Jo Aleh, a former Israeli soldier.

Jo Aleh is a member of Beth Shalom, a Progressive Jewish congregation in Auckland.

Just before her ninth birthday, Jo Aleh was impressed by the New Zealand victory in the 1995 America's Cup, and asked her father if she could learn to sail.

Jo Aleh did a learn to sail course at the Ponsonby Cruising Club and with the help of her extended family a small sailing dinghy was purchased.

Jo Aleh began her competitive career at the age of 11 in an Optimist.

Jo Aleh then made sailing history as the first female to win the Tanner Cup since its inception in 1945.

Jo Aleh won the Auckland Optimist Girls' Championship in 2000, in Kohimarama YC.

Jo Aleh then began the road to Beijing, competing in the Laser Radial class with a string of successful results including a World Cup event win, and a silver medal at the Pre-Olympic Test Event in Qingdao, China.

Jo Aleh then competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Women's one-person dinghy, coming seventh.

Jo Aleh twice achieved world Number 1, in the Women's Laser Radial on 5 March 2008, and the Women's 470 in 2013.

Jo Aleh is a life member of the Kohimarama Yacht Club, Takapuna Boating Club and Yachting New Zealand, and is a current member of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

On 26 July 2024 Jo Aleh was announced as a flag bearer for the New Zealand team at the 2024 Summer Olympics, along with Aaron Gate.