Meet Our Ambassador Afrodite: Olympic Sailor & Sustainability Advocate, Part 2 - Sailors for the Sea

Meet Our Ambassador Afrodite: Olympic Sailor & Sustainability Advocate, Part 2

 August 6, 2026  | By: Steff Ruf

In the second part of our conversation with Sailors for the Sea Ambassador Afrodite Zegers-De Kleine, we go beyond the racecourse to explore the people, passions, and purpose that shape her life. From coaching the next generation of sailors to overcoming a career-threatening injury and returning to Olympic training, Afrodite shares how resilience, education, and a deep connection to the ocean continue to guide her journey. It’s also why becoming part of the Sailors for the Sea community feels like such a natural fit.

Sailors for the Sea: Coaching is also an important part of your life. Why?

Afrodite: Coaching allows me to give something back to the sport that has given me so much. I work with Optimist, 420 and 470 sailors, helping young athletes develop not only their sailing skills and confidence, but also an understanding of why protecting our oceans matters.

I believe the next generation of sailors can also become the next generation of ocean advocates.

Q: What do you enjoy outside of sailing?

Music has always been my second language. I completed my piano studies at the Athens Conservatory when I was 15, and I still perform recitals and compose music, which is available on Spotify. I also play the alto saxophone.

At home, life revolves around my husband, Rogier, whom I met while working at Rabobank, and our two dogs, Ayrton Senna, a Dutch Kooikerhond, and Charlie, a Cavapoo.

Q: You’ve recently returned to racing after a difficult injury. Can you tell us about that?

After the Tokyo Olympics, I suffered an accident while sailing the Nacra 17 that resulted in four knee surgeries. It was a long and challenging recovery, but it also reminded me how much sailing means to me.

I made my return to international racing at Hyères in 2026 and am now campaigning toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, this time representing my birth country, Greece. The journey has made me even more grateful for the sea and even more determined to help protect it.

Q: Why does Sailors for the Sea resonate with you?

Sailors for the Sea brings together everything I care about most: sailing, education and protecting the oceans that make our sport possible.

Being part of this community is an opportunity to turn my love for the sea into meaningful action, collaborate with others who share the same values, and inspire sailors of all ages to leave our waters better than we found them.

Read part one of our interview with Afrodite here.