Israeli Omer grabs gold at windsurfing Worlds
Israel’s Yoav Omer showed once more why he is regarded as one of the future stars of Olympic sports in the country on Monday, clinching the gold medal in the RS:X competition at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, with a day to spare.
Omer, who defended his title in the RS:X Youth World Windsurfing Championships last month in Limassol, Cyprus, completely dominated the competition in Auckland, wrapping up the win with three wins from three races on Monday to open an impressive 29-point lead ahead of the medal race.
“It’s an incredible feeling and I am so happy to win before the last day,” said Omer, who will compete on the senior circuit next year. “I can’t really describe how I feel now. For sure my friends and family will be happy.”
“Yoav had three amazing competitions in the past month, winning two youth world titles and finishing fourth in a senior World Cup event in Melbourne,” said Israel national team coach Shahaf Amir. “There is no doubt he is ready for the senior tour.”
Israel’s Ido Bilik and Ofek Shalgi also secured themselves a medal on Monday in the 420 Class boys event.
The USA’s Wiley Rogers and Jack Parkin guaranteed themselves the gold medal, with second-placed Bilik and Shalgi to battle Argentina’s third placed sailors, Fausto Peralta and Martin Arroyo Verdi, for the silver medal in the final race.
Israel’s Katy Spychakov, who won the girls RS:X event in Limassol last month, is well placed to take the silver in Auckland on Tuesday.
Great Britain’s Emma Wilson has already secured the gold medal, with Spychakov sitting in second place with a seven point cushion over Yue Tan of China and Maria Belen Bazo of Peru heading into the final day.