There were no medals for Portugal at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, which ended yesterday in Tavira, but there was emotion until the end.
The last day of the race started with the hope that the 420 lusa Diogo Pereira/Manuel Macedo duo, the one that stood out in this competition, would reach the medals, but eighth place in the last race determined that they would be in fifth place, just behind a podium spot.
Reasons to smile had the Spanish entourage, the one that stood out the most in this World Cup. After securing the gold medal in women's 420, still on Thursday, athletes from the neighboring country added two other gold medals and one silver to the lot. This service earned the Spanish national team the Trophy of Nations, awarded to the country with the best combined results among the 67 nations present.
By classes, the 420 was the one on which the Portuguese eyes were set, given the legitimate hopes of obtaining a medal for Portugal. The task was not impossible, but it was known to be difficult, with Diogo Pereira and Manuel Macedo having to recover in relation to the Asian pairs that left for the last round on the podium, which they ended up failing to do. The gold medal was won by Yia Jia Loh and Jonathan Yeo (SIN) with silver following for Norizan/Aziz (MAS) and bronze for Koizumi/Matsuo (JPN).
In the female sector, the Spanish Silvia Mas Depares/Marta Davila Mateu did not even need to enter the water, as they were already champions. The fight was for silver and Wallach/Brokman (ISR) managed to keep second place. Closing the podium were Polish Ewa Romaniuk and Katarzyna Goralska. Portuguese Teresa Camelo and Helena Oliveira finished the competition with a 5th place in today's race, climbed one position and finished in 18th place.
In Laser Radial, Spain did the full round, with Joel Rodriguez and Martina Cacho winning gold in males and females. Silver in men's Radial went to Seafra Guilfoyle (IRL) and bronze to Ryan Lo (SIN). Santiago Sampaio finished 7th in the last race, finishing 19th overall.
American Haddon Hughes held the silver and Monika Mikkola (FIN) rose to 3rd place and grabbed the bronze medal. Carolina João maintained the 18th position overall.
In the SL16 class Louis Flament/Charles Dorange (FRA), who dominated the last days of the race, got the gold. Jordi Booth Ferrando and Ruben Booth Ferrando (ESP), who did not take off from the French, took silver and Kim Vidal/António Lopes (BRA) took bronze. The Portuguese Vasco Rocha and Salvador Taveira kept the 14th position, despite the 5th place in the last race.
In 29er the podium remained unchanged, confirming Brice Yrieix/Loic Guillou as world champions in Tavira. Quinn Wilson/Riley Gibbs (USA) were silver and Markus Somerville/ Isaac Mchardie (NZL) bronze medals. The Portuguese Francisco Maia/Rui Oliveira finished 20th.
In RS:X there were three races on the final day and Yael Paz held the 1st place, taking the gold to Israel. With a championship on the rise Mattia Camboni (ITA) was a gold point away, but will have to console himself with the silver medal. The Polish Radoslaw Furmanski surpassed the Russian windsurfer and took the bronze.
In the women's sector, balance was also the dominant note, but it was Russian Stefaniya Elfutina who secured the gold. Shi Hongmei (CHN) won the silver and Marta Maggetti (ITA) the bronze medal. Portuguese windsurfer Frederico Rodrigues finished 20th.
The Trophy of Nations was awarded to the Spanish entourage, with second place for the French and third for Israel. Portugal was in 22nd place. Another highlight is the Bengt Julin Trophy, awarded by vote of the athletes and which went to the SL16 duo made up of Brandon Wijtenburg and Todd Fisher, from South Africa. This award reflects values such as sportsmanship, respect and friendship.
The Closing Ceremony of the ISAF World Youth Sailing Championship takes place today, at 20:30, in Praça da República, in Tavira and will be attended by the President of the Portuguese Youth and Sports Institute, Augusto Baganha.
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