Israeli Windsurfers Dominate World Championships with Gold and Silver Medals

Israeli windsurfer Tamar Steinberg, 20, secured the gold medal at the World Championships held in Weymouth, England. Her compatriot Sharon Kantor claimed the silver medal, while Daniela Peleg finished in fourth place. Steinberg was a dominant force throughout the competition, leading the preliminary heats by a significant margin after winning seven out of sixteen races. This performance secured her a direct entry into the final with a bonus point, meaning she only needed to win one race to clinch the title.

The final race was dramatic, with all three Israeli competitors initially leading at the first buoy. Peleg dropped to fourth after incurring a penalty. Kantor led into the next mark, with Steinberg close behind. The two Israelis exchanged the lead before Steinberg ultimately crossed the finish line first to win her first world championship gold. Steinberg also holds the European Championship title and was the world runner-up last year. This victory marks a rare double for her, as she is also the U23 World Champion.

For Kantor, who started the competition in 16th place, this silver medal is her second world championship medal, following her gold in 2024. She previously represented Israel at the Paris Olympics, where she won a silver medal. Daniela Peleg's journey to the final was remarkable, starting from 32nd place in the preliminaries and fighting her way to the medal races, but a penalty at the first buoy prevented her from reaching the podium.

In the men's competition, Olympic champion Tom Reuveny faced his own drama. He qualified in sixth place and advanced to the semifinals, which he won. However, the race was canceled due to a false start, and in the subsequent rerun, Reuveny finished third, missing out on a place in the final. Yoav Omer was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Separately, Israeli judoka Kerem Primo won a bronze medal at the Grand Slam in Budapest in the under-63kg category. Primo secured victories in her early matches before being defeated in the quarterfinals by Slovenia's Kaja Kajzer.