Seven Youth Sailing World Championship medallists who went on to win big

From Olympic champions to World Sailor of the Year winners, some of the biggest names in sailing once graced the youth stage.

Ahead of its 52nd edition, here are just a few past Youth Sailing World Championship medallists who have gone on to stamp their names into the history books.

 

Blair Tuke (NZL)

Before Blair Tuke became a three-time Olympic medallist, he clinched silver in the 29er class at the 2007 Youth Sailing World Championships in Kingston, Canada.

Tuke joined forces with Paul Snow-Hansen to grab silver behind Denmark’s Henrik Sogaard and Soren Kristensen in what was set to become an incredible career on the water.

The New Zealander teamed up Peter Burling for his Olympic debut at London 2012 where the pair won silver in the 49er before Rio 2016 brought one better, the duo crowned Olympic champions.

Ahead of his second Olympics, Tuke was named 2015 World Sailor of the Year alongside Burling after winning 28 major 49er regattas in a row – a new class record.

Over his career, the sailor has won a staggering eight senior World Championship gold medals and clinched a second Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020.

Martine Grael and Kahene Kunze (BRA)

From childhood sailing friends to two-time Olympic champions, Brazil’s Martine Grael and Kahene Kunze have been household names in the 49erFX class for over a decade.

The duo started their illustrious sailing careers by winning gold in the 420 at the 2009 Youth Sailing World Championships on their home water of Brazil, beating Italy and Singapore to the title.

In 2013, Grael and Kunze made the switch to the 49erFX with an eye on Olympic qualification and won their maiden senior world title the following year.

The pair went on to win gold at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and claimed their second Pan American gold in 2023.

 

Lobke Berkhout (NED)

Five-time world champion Lobke Berkhout won back-to-back silvers at the Youth Sailing World Championships.

The sailor from the Netherlands finished second in 1997 alongside teammate Johanna Innemee, backing it up with a second silver in 1998.

Between 2005 and 2010, Berkhout was on top of the world in the 470 class, crowned world champion every year except in 2008.

That was the year she claimed Olympic silver with helmswoman Marcelien de Koning at Beijing 2008.

At the London 2012 Olympics, Berkhout claimed a bronze medal alongside new sailing partner Lisa Westerhof.

Max Maeder (SGP)

Teenage sailing sensation Max Maeder is on the the start list for this year’s edition, but he already warrants his name on the list of greats.

The 17-year-old is the reigning boys Formula Kite champion from 2021 and 2022 and will be looking to clinch his three-peat this December.

Maeder made his senior World Championships debut in 2021 and in 2022 clinched his first major senior medal with silver at the Formula Kite World Championships in Calgari.

At the 2023 World Sailing Championships in The Hague, Maeder made history as the youngest-ever Formula Kite world champion aged just 16.

Siren Sundby (NOR)

Norway’s Siren Sundby went from Youth World champion to Olympic champion in just four years.

Sundby won gold in the Byte class at the 2000 Sydney Youth Worlds, beating Poland’s Kalarzyna Brzoska and Germany’s Hanne Jansch in the boat’s event debut.

Four years later, aged 21, the sailor soared to Olympic gold in the Europe sailing class.

In 2003 and 2004, Sundby was the leading athlete in the Europe, winning back-to-back world titles and named 2003 female World Sailor of the Year.

 

Pippa Wilson (GBR)

Great Britain’s Pippa Wilson claimed 2008 as her own.

The Yngling sailor roared to gold at the Beijing Olympic Games alongside Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, the latter of whom had previously competed at the 1995 and 1996 Youth World Championships in the laser radial.

The trio went on to triumph at the World and European Championships the same year, dominating the Yngling field.

But before her golden success, Wilson clinched bronze at the 2004 Youth Worlds alongside Harriette Trumble in the 420 class.

Wilson capped off two phenomenal years on the water by being awarded an MBE for her services to sailing in the 2009 British New Year Honours.