Israeli Windsurfers Sweep Podium at World Championships

Israeli windsurfers Tamar Steinberg and Sharon Kantor secured gold and silver medals respectively at the World Championships on Saturday, marking a significant achievement for Israeli sports. The final race featured three Israeli competitors out of four participants, highlighting the nation's dominance in the sport.

Steinberg, the newly crowned world champion, expressed her elation, describing the race as incredibly difficult and a hard-fought battle for the medal. "I wanted it so much. Not everything we want happens, but this really happened and I'm happy," she stated. She added that while she had a clear mission from the start, medal races are unpredictable. "I felt Sharon breathing down my neck, she also led at the beginning, but we fought until the end. I'm happy for her too and for Daniela and Shahar who had an amazing week. This final was almost an Israeli championship final, so it's amazing."

Steinberg also reflected on 2026 being a remarkable year for her and thanked the Sailing Association, her coaches, and her support team. She dedicated the win to her family and friends watching from Israel. Shahar Tzuberi, the women's national team coach, praised the team's preparation and performance, calling the result excellent. He commended the athletes and the professional staff, including the fitness coach and psychologist, for creating optimal conditions. Tzuberi noted the difficulty of maintaining such a high level consistently, especially with intense competition both internationally and amongst the Israeli team members, expressing immense pride in their repeated success at the top of the sport.