Philp is one of only two Fiji-born athletes, along with golfer Vijay Singh, to be ranked number one in their sports official world ranking list. At age 15 Philp was the youngest ever athlete to compete at an Olympic sailing event (Los Angeles 1984), and was a flag bearer for his country at the 2000 Olympic Games.
Throughout his sporting career Philp won 13 individual Windsurfer World titles at the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 World Championships (including 4 overall world titles) and competed at 5 consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000. He was also vice–world champion in both the Windsurfer and Mistral Olympic Class in 1989 and 1999 and topped the ISAF (International Sailing Association Federation) world-ranking list for Olympic windsurfing in 1997. He was made a Member of the Order of Fiji, the most senior award in the Fijian honors system in 1995 and was inducted into his country"s Hall of Fame in 2009, for achievements and contribution towards sports in Fiji.
