iQFOiL European Championships: Christchurch’s windsurfing whiz Emma Wilson bags bronze

CHRISTCHURCH'S Olympic medallist Emma Wilson picked up her second medal of 2023, winning bronze at the iQFOiL European Championships in Greece.

Wilson followed her victory at the Princess Sofia Trophy season opener in Palma last month with another podium spot in Patras.

Strong winds greeted more than 200 of the world’s top athletes, creating challenging conditions over the six-day competition.

However, Wilson came out firing, winning two races on the first day and notching up 11 podium finishes across the regatta’s 19 races.

Wilson won an automatic spot in the semi-final, then scored a top-two finish to bag a place in the winner-takes-all final, crossing the line in third to take bronze behind Norway’s Mina Mobekk and Sharon Kantor of Israel.

“I'm super happy with my result," said the two-time youth world champion . “I had a pretty challenging week with sickness and not being able to eat anything, which in 25 knots on an iQFOiL wasn’t the easiest thing, but I’m super proud to have fought through that and managed to get through the semis.”

The 24-year-old added: “In the final, I pushed as hard as I could and, in the end, after a wind shift and a crash on the last reach, I ended in third.

“I’m just super happy and grateful to be in that position.

“A huge thanks to everyone who supports me, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Wilson was pushed hard by British teammate Islay Watson, who remained inside the top 10 until the final day of fleet racing when some big scores relegated her to 14th.

Wilson won RS:X bronze in Tokyo on her Olympic Games debut while she was the youngest GB sailing team member.

The world-class windsurfer follows in her mother’s footsteps, Penny, who competed at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games also in windsurfing.

For full results from the iQFOiL Euros, visit rb.gy/tl73y