Israeli Windsurfer Daniela Peleg Recounts Dramatic World Championships Comeback

Israeli windsurfer Daniela Peleg finished fourth at the World Championships in England on Saturday, marking her sixth senior world championship appearance. Peleg, who won a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships at age 18 and two European Championship gold medals in 2024 and 2025, described the event as an emotional rollercoaster.

She experienced a challenging start to the competition, finishing 32nd on the first day and 31st on the second. Peleg attributed this to an "awful start" she couldn't yet explain, but stated she refused to give up. She managed to recover significantly in the remaining preliminary races, climbing into the top ten and qualifying for the medal races.

"I felt like today I came to devour. I entered the final from the lowest position, I knew I had nothing to lose. I put all my chips on this day," Peleg said. She explained that after the initial difficult days, she disconnected from social media and focused on her own abilities and past achievements to regain her mental strength.

Her coach, Shachar Tzuberi, provided significant encouragement, reminding her of her capabilities and helping her overcome the setbacks. Peleg felt confident heading into the medal races after strong performances in the quarterfinals and semifinals, particularly enjoying the conditions with strong winds and waves.

In the final race, Peleg received a penalty early on, forcing her to perform a 360-degree turn with her board. This setback significantly impacted her race, as she had felt strong and fast before the penalty. Despite her efforts to catch up and overtake the third-place competitor, she narrowly missed the podium, finishing just behind fellow Israelis Tamar Steinberg and Sharon, who secured second place, potentially creating a full Israeli podium.

Looking ahead, Peleg has a short break before preparing for the next World Championships in January, which will serve as a qualifier for the Los Angeles Olympics, her primary goal.