2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds at Sant Pere Pescador, Costa Brava, Spain - Overall
by iQFOiL Class Association 10 Jul 19:32 BST
3-10 July 2026
The 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships came to a thrilling conclusion today at Club de Vela La Ballena Alegre, where a week of world-class competition ended with spectacular Medal Series in all four categories.
After seven days of racing and almost 400 athletes from 36 nations competing on the Costa Brava, four new Youth & Junior World Champions were crowned in near-perfect sailing conditions.
The Medal Series once again delivered dramatic racing, rewarding consistency throughout the Opening Series while leaving everything to play for in the final head-to-head battles.
The U19 Men produced one of the most exciting stories of the day. American Garrett January (USA) was the standout performer of the Medal Series, advancing from the Quarter Final alongside Peyton Dits (NED) before securing a place in the Grand Final after a hard-fought Semi Final. January then sailed a flawless first Grand Final race to defeat the favorites and force a decisive second final. In the winner-takes-all race, however, Italy's Mattia Saoncella (ITA) responded like a true champion. After staying close to January throughout the race, Saoncella found the decisive move on the second upwind leg to take the lead and secure the race win, earning the U19 Men's World Championship title. Thanks to his carried match point and outstanding Medal Series performance, Garrett January claimed the silver medal, while Poland's Leon Jankowski (POL) completed the podium with bronze.
The U19 Women Medal Series also featured several dramatic moments. Greece's Danai Giannouli (GRE) dominated the Quarter Final to advance together with France's Garance Chatelier-Daisay (FRA). In the Semi Final, Giannouli once again looked in control before an error on the upwind leg opened the door for Théa Le Borgne Zibetti (FRA) and Turkey's Rüya Ugurlu (TUR)to qualify for the Grand Final. Once there, however, Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) left no room for doubt, leading from start to finish to become the 2026 U19 Women's World Champion. Britain's Sophie Clark (GBR) secured silver thanks to the match point earned during the Opening Series, while Rüya Ugurlu (TUR) completed the podium with bronze.
The U17 Boys title was decided after another fiercely contested Medal Series. Italy's Davide Mecucci (ITA) and Spain's Gonzalo Ruiz Mendez (ESP)advanced through the Quarter Final, with Frantisek Burda (CZE) and Ruiz Mendez progressing from the Semi Final to join the leaders. In the Grand Final, Germany's Moritz Schleicher (GER) delivered a commanding performance, controlling the race from the start to secure the U17 Boys World Championship. Italy's Luca Pacchiotti (ITA) claimed silver thanks to the match point carried into the Grand Final, while Frantisek Burda (CZE)earned the bronze medal.
The championship concluded with a spectacular U17 Girls Medal Series. In the Quarter Final, Anna Jannieke Korevaar (NED) had a flawless race, judging the lay-line perfectly, to qualify together with Turkey's Ece Melis Bas (TUR). The Semi Final saw Israel's Noa Koren (ISR) produce an outstanding upwind leg to win the race and qualify alongside Turkey's Nisa Üstündag (TUR). The Grand Final delivered one last dramatic showdown. Poland's Michelle Urzykowski (POL) made an excellent start before a crash after the first gybe ended her hopes of victory. Championship leader Parla Kabasakal (TUR) appeared in control before briefly misjudging the final lay-line, allowing Noa Koren to take the lead. On the final downwind, however, Kabasakal found another burst of speed, drawing level with the Israeli sailor before edging ahead in a thrilling sprint to the finish to become the 2026 U17 Girls World Champion. Urzykowski secured the silver medal thanks to her carried match point, while Noa Koren (ISR) completed the podium.
The Prize Giving Ceremony also celebrated the U15 Champions, with Zeynep Mavioglu (TUR) winning the girls' title and Refael Assaraf (ISR)taking the boys' title. The Nations Trophy was awarded to Turkey, recognizing the country's exceptional performances across all youth categories throughout the championship.
The 2026 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships once again confirmed Costa Brava as one of the world's premier venues for Olympic windsurfing development, bringing together the next generation of elite foiling talent in a week that combined outstanding racing, sportsmanship and international friendship.
Final Podiums:
U19 Men
- Mattia Saoncella (ITA) - World Champion
- Garrett January (USA)
- Leon Jankowski (POL)
U19 Women
- Taisiia Stopchenko (AIN) - World Champion
- Sophie Clark (GBR)
- Rüya Ugurlu (TUR)
U17 Boys
- Moritz Schleicher (GER) - World Champion
- Luca Pacchiotti (ITA)
- Frantisek Burda (CZE)
U17 Girls
- Parla Kabasakal (TUR) - World Champion
- Michelle Urzykowski (POL)
- Noa Koren (ISR)
Find out more on the event website.