From 6 to 11 July: IQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus with top line-up and livestream

Excitement is building in Aarhus, with almost all of the participants in the iQFOiL World Championships already on site. The event marks the official start of the new Olympic cycle and therefore the starting signal for qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The focus is particularly on the medallists from Paris 2024, who want to defend their top position. In contrast to the Olympics, there have been changes to the material and mode.

Olympic champions Marta Maggetti from Italy, Sharon Kantor from Israel and Emma Wilson from Great Britain will be competing in the women's event. In the men's field, medallists Tom Reuveny from Israel, Grae Morris from Australia and Luuc Van Opzeeland from the Netherlands will be competing. Former RS:X Olympic champion Kiran Badloe from the Netherlands will also be competing.

Søe wants the home title, Steinlein continues upwards

However, Johan Søe, who has temporarily put the PWA Tour on hold for the iQFOiL World Championships in his home country, will take centre stage. Can "The Beast", who has been extremely strong and dominant in the World Cup recently, also compete for the World Championship title on the Olympic material? "It will be something special to ride in Aarhus. We are ready - and I hope to see a lot of spectators on the water!" said Søe. Foil world champion Justine Lemeteyer is also making a trip to the Olympic class for the World Championships.

Theresa Steinlein, who finished a strong sixth at the 2024 Olympics, will also be competing in Aarhus. She will be joined in the women's field by Sophia Meyer, who recently finished fourth at Kiel Week, and Alica Stuhlemmer. Fabian Wolf, who has tasted blood after his Kiel Week victory but is not one of the favourites, will be in the men's field. Apart from him, Lenny Friemel, Jakob Ditzen and Bastian Weber are also taking part in Aarhus.

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Final runs in the livestream

Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Manager of the international iQFOiL class, emphasises the importance of the event: "This World Championship is a milestone for our class. It is the first major event of the new Olympic cycle and the level is incredibly high - with the full Paris podium, top talent from every continent and new nations entering. The iQFOiL class is growing fast and events like this show how exciting and global our sport has become." Jon Koch Hansen, Director of the Aarhus International Sailing Centre, is also looking forward to the event: "We are thrilled to welcome the world back to Aarhus. This will be a vibrant celebration of sailing - not just for experts, but for everyone."

Spectators can watch the World Cup free of charge. There will be food trucks and large screens along the Aarhus Ø promenade. Registration and equipment checks are on the agenda for the first few days, with the first races scheduled for Sunday in the official programme. From 9 to 11 July, the final races will be streamed worldwide with English commentary!

All information and results at 2025iqworldsaarhus.sailti.com