Amara Wichithong (born April 1963) is a pioneering Thai windsurfer recognized as the country's first female competitive board sailor. Over a distinguished career spanning more than thirty years, she secured over 200 regional and international titles, helping to popularize windsurfing in Southeast Asia. Wichithong represented Thailand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the women’s Lechner A-390 event.[1]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Native name | อมรา วิจิตรหงษ์ |
| Full name | Amara Wichithong |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Born | April 27, 1963 Ayutthaya, Thailand |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Website | amarawatersports |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Windsurfing |
She founded a watersports school in Pattaya and has since been a committed advocate for marine conservation and environmental education, leading numerous community initiatives promoting sustainability.
She has been bestowed with the Royal Honorary Pin (Rak Tha-lay Ying Cheep) and the Sports Positive Award 2024 (Asia) for her extensive contribution to the protection, conservation, and restoration of marine and coastal natural resources in Thailand.
Career and Legacy
editAmara Wichithong is one of Thailand's most accomplished windsurfers, and a pioneer of the sport in Southeast Asia. She represented Thailand at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the women's Lechner A-390 windsurfing event.[2]
Raised in Ayutthaya, Wichithong had a challenging early life and limited formal schooling. At age 13, she moved alone to Pattaya to support herself and found work by the sea. It was there that she discovered windsurfing and quickly developed an affinity for the sport. Within three months of learning, she entered and won her first local competition.[3]
By age 17, Wichithong had won the international freestyle windsurfing title in Israel. Over the next two decades, she competed across Asia and Europe, winning more than 200 titles in freestyle, slalom, and course racing.[4] She earned medals at multiple Southeast Asian Games and represented Thailand on numerous international stages.
Following her competitive career, she founded Amara Watersports, a watersports training center on Jomtien Beach, which offers windsurfing, wingfoiling, paddleboarding, and sailing instruction. Her school continues to mentor national-level athletes and hosts windsurfing events.[5]
In addition to her contributions to sport, Wichithong is a committed environmental advocate. She leads beach cleanup campaigns, trains youth and women in ocean conservation, and organizes community workshops on plastic upcycling and sustainable tourism. Her initiatives include converting marine plastic waste into usable bricks for local construction and involving students in citizen science activities.[6]
Wichithong's legacy as an athlete, entrepreneur, and environmentalist continues to inspire a new generation of Thai women to pursue excellence in sport and sustainability.
On July 4, 2022, Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, presented the Royal Honorary Pin Rak Tha-lay Ying Cheep to Ms. Amara Wichithong for her dedication to protecting and restoring marine and coastal resources, and for being a role model and inspiration in environmental protection. Her efforts include public education, outreach, and youth activities to cultivate awareness and foster marine conservation across Thailand.
She is also the winner of the Sports Positive Award 2024 (Asia) for her extensive contribution to combating Thailand's plastic pollution crisis.
Notable Achievements
edit| Year | Event | Sport | Position | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Siam Cup (Triangle Race), Thailand | Windsurfing | 2nd | Silver |
| 1978 | Siam Cup (Ladies Marathon), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1979 | International Windsurfing Cup, Thailand | Windsurfing | 3rd | Bronze |
| 1980 | SSC-See Walchen, Germany | Windsurfing | 2nd | Silver |
| 1980 | Damen Münchner Surf-Meisterschaft, Germany | Windsurfing | 4th | |
| 1980 | Freestyle (Ladies), Israel | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1980 | Silvaplana-Regatta, Switzerland | Windsurfing | 3rd | Bronze |
| 1980 | Asian Tandem Regatta, Thailand | Sailing / Multi-sport | 1st | Gold |
| 1980 | Boardsailing Marathon Championship, Singapore | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1980 | Coke Cup (Ladies) | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1981 | Thailand Windsurfing Championship, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1981 | Thai Windsurfing Association Cup, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1981 | Seibu Sports Cup Hi-Wind, Japan | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1981 | Mistral World Championship (Women), Thailand | Windsurfing | 4th | |
| 1981 | Freestyle Mistral World, Singapore | Windsurfing | 7th | |
| 1982 | National Windsurf Championship (Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1982 | LSS LL-Bradan, Sweden | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1982 | OWSC, Sweden | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1982 | Singapore Board Sailing Championship, Singapore | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1983 | Singapore Championship (Ladies), Singapore | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1983 | Champion of Chonburi (B.E. 2526), Chon Buri, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1983 | Siam Cup (Marathon Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1984 | Pattaya Windsurfing Festival (Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1984 | Around The Islands Race (Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1984 | Marathon Race Championship (Women), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1984 | Siam Cup (Marathon Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1984 | National Championship, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1985 | Siam Cup Marathon (Ladies) | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1985 | Kent Cup (Ladies), Hongkong | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1985 | Asian Tandem Regatta, Thailand | Tandem Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1986 | Asian Tandem Regatta, Thailand | Tandem Windsurfing | 8th | |
| 1986 | Singapore Open (Triangle Race), Singapore | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1988 | International Asian Windsurfing Championship, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1989 | Singapore Open Championship (Ladies Class), Singapore | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1989 | Siam World Cup (Women), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1989 | Gulf of Thailand (Lightweight Winner), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1991 | International Raceboard Class, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1992 | Olympics, Barcelona Spain (Women's Lechner A-390) | Windsurfing | 20th | |
| 1994 | National Championship, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1994 | Mini Marathon Race (Ladies), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1995 | Taksim Cup (His Majesty the King Cup), Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1998 | Sailboard Phuket Cup, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 1999 | Monsoon Madness (Ladies), Malaysia | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 2005 | Ladies Formula Cup, Pattaya, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 2005 | Master Class (Senior), Pattaya, Thailand | Windsurfing | 1st | Gold |
| 2016 | SUP Station (3 km Women's Race), Thailand | SUP | 2nd | Silver |
| 2018 | Singha Windsurfer Class, Thailand | Windsurfing | 3rd | Bronze |
References
edit- ↑ "Olympedia – Amara Wichikong". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Amara Wichithong". Olympedia. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Inspired by Amara". Pattaya Trader. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Meet POP Team Leader Amara". Starboard. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Amara Watersports Pattaya". Amara Watersports. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ↑ "Inspired by Amara". Pattaya Trader. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
External links
edit- Amara Wichithong at World Sailing (archived, alternate link)
- Amara Wichithong at Olympics.com