iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games in Torbole, Italy - Overall
by iQFOiL Communications 10 May 2025 19:15 BST
6-10 May 2025
The iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Games concluded in Torbole, Lake Garda, with the debut of the eight-rider experimental Medal Series format—featuring only semifinals and finals—after five days of intense and exciting racing, despite consistently unsettled, at times stormy, weather conditions.
Once again, Circolo Surf Torbole—host of the event, together with technical partner iQFOiL Youth & Junior International Class and the Italian Sailing Federation—demonstrated its renowned experience and legacy in organizing youth events. The regatta confirmed the growing momentum of the Olympic iQFOiL class among the U17 and U19 categories, with a strong turnout of 215 athletes from 23 nations.
The new Medal Series format saw the top two from the preliminary series advance directly to the Grand Final, while the 3rd to 8th placed athletes raced head-to-head in knockout semifinals to claim the remaining two spots. The leader of the overall standings entered the Grand Final with one win already on the board and needed just one more to seal victory. In all four categories, the eventual winners secured the championship by clinching that second win at the first opportunity.
U19 Men
A dominant and well-deserved win for Italian-Canadian Valentino Blewett, who was joined on the podium by France's Leopold Brisedou in second and Switzerland's Robin Zeley in third. The semifinal in this fleet was dramatic, with three of six sailors incurring early start penalties.
"It was a good Grand Final for me, I started off leading already from the first mark and I just stayed in control and got the win!", commented Valentino Blewett. "The whole week went very good, but I am particularly happy with this very last day, I was able to make it up into the first position so I'm happy with this event. I am planning to attend the Senior World Championship in Aarhus, maybe, and then Brest for the Youth & Junior Worlds. This was a good start of the season Under 19, I'm really happy with my race and the whole week".
U19 Women
An intense and exciting final among the women saw several lead changes from the outset. Ultimately, Italy's Medea Falcioni prevailed over fellow Italian Francesca Maria Salerno, who had led after a brilliant first upwind. Turkey's Nurhayat Güven rounded out the podium in third.
"My week was definitely great, I managed to win almost every race, so it was really amazing!", said a very excited Medea Flacioni. "We have had different conditions, and I'm really happy with how I performed in all of them, also with my starts. I know I have to work on a few things that I want to improve before the Worlds in Brest in July. So I will definitely work hard this summer, maybe also training here in Torbole. Today the medal race was really tight, there were many lead changes with Francesca but the Turkish girl was also pushing really hard. I'm so happy and I am really looking forward to the iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championship!".
U17 Men
A Dutch one-two, with Finn Brüll taking the win ahead of Merlijn Boswijk, while the Czech Republic's Frantisek Burda claimed third.
"It was definitely a week with ups and downs, the beginning of the week didn't go so well for me, but further down the week it went better and better and the best was this final race, it was amazing, already leading at the first mark I could make it happen, so I am super happy and couldn't wish for anything more!" Finn Brull declared right after the finish of the Grand Final. "Next goal would be the Worlds, of course, winning twoYouth & Junior International Games is really, really cool, but now I have to make it happen at the Worlds!!"
U17 Women
Turkey topped the fleet, with Rüya Ugurlu and Parla Kabasakal finishing first and second respectively. Israel's Noa Koren took third, and Italy's Ginevra Giunti delivered a strong performance to place fourth, having battled through a closely contested semifinal.
"The week really went well and I enjoyed all of the races, and especially the Medal Race today, it went so well!", commented Rüya Ugurlu. "I took the lead right at the start and I kept it until the finish, I'm so happy and I want to congratulate with everyone who raced, I really enjoyed all week with the girls. Next is the World Championship I want to continue winning and I'm going to work really hard for that race".