Emotional day at the end of the Fly! ANA Windsurfing World Cup in Yokosuka: This year there was no drama, but great emotions among the new world champions. As announced, there was virtually no wind and no further races were possible, so nothing changed in the rankings. Johan Søe and Marion Mortefon win the Japan event, while Justine Lemeteyer and Pierre Mortefon remain at the top of the annual rankings.
Great emotions for Justine Lemeteyer
This is Lemeteyer's first World Championship title and she has had a tough few days: "I arrived here very tired and couldn't cope well with the pressure," said the 22-year-old. She was often on the phone to her family, who were supporting Justine from Normandy: "They didn't get much sleep this week." Lemeteyer kept crying in the PWA interview: "I once said to my grandma that I wanted to be world champion one day, and now the time has come." She commented with a smile on the fact that her helmet flew across the beach after she missed the race in the last final: "I used to play handball, so that probably came through again...."
More about the PWA World Cup in Japan
In the men's event, Pierre Mortefon completed the double of Foil World Championship and Slalom X. The Frenchman put in an extremely consistent season and finished all three foil events on Fuerteventura, Sylt and in Japan in second place. "Mission accomplished," he commented on his third overall world championship title after the announcement in Japan. "It was a dream at the beginning of the year. I'm happy for everyone who believes in me. It's not easy sometimes, I have two children who motivate me every day, and the title is for them!" In comparison to his first world title in 2019, Mortefon said: "I'm happy about Slalom X, it was one of the best seasons!"
Daniele Benedetti gave Mortefon a close fight for the title and can be pleased with his runner-up finish. The Italian achieved his best result of the event in Elimination 4 and came within 2.3 points of Mortefon, but had no chance of a final showdown due to the lull. Like Mortefon, Benedetti did not finish outside the top five once. Matteo Iachino completed the podium, the Italian was only 0.3 points behind Mortefon after two second and two third places. In the annual standings, Iachino just missed out on the podium behind Enrico Marotti, who was separated from the top two places by just 100 points.
Søe top favourite for World Cup 2025
High-flyer Johan Søe thus won his second event after Sylt and once again rode in a class of his own. In this form, the Dane is likely to be the top favourite for the World Championship title next year - he did not compete in 2024 due to his Olympic start on Fuerte and therefore had no more World Championship chances. Matteo Iachino completes the Japan podium in third place behind Søe and Mortefon. Nico Prien remains in eighth place, Michele Becker finished tenth.
Marion Mortefon wins the women's event ahead of the new world champion Justine Lemeteyer. Lina Erzen, who won here last year, comes third. Tamar Steinberg and Sara Wennekes are two more iQFOilers, ahead of Blanca Alabau in sixth place.
Results PWA World Cup Japan
Gents
- Johan Søe
- Pierre Mortefon
- Matteo Iachino
- Daniele Benedetti
- Jordy Vonk
- Enrico Marotti
- Maciek Rutkowski
- Nico Prien
- Amado Vrieswijk
- Michele Becker
Ladies
- Marion Mortefon
- Justine Lemetyer
- Lina Erzen
- Tamar Steinberg
- Sara Wennekes
- Blanca Alabau
- Mariana Aguilar Chavez Peon
- Bobbi-Lynn de Jong
- Giovanna Prada
- Stella Bilger
Final standings PWA Foil World Championship 2024
Gents
- Pierre Mortefon
- Daniele Benedetti
- Enrico Marotti
- Matteo Iachino
- Maciek Rutkowski
- Amado Vrieswijk
- Jordy Vonk
- Nico Prien
- Alexis Mathis
- Michele Becker
Ladies
- Justine Lemeteyer
- Marion Mortefon
- Blanca Alabau
- Bobbi-Lynn de Jong
- Mae Davico
- Anna Biagliolini
- Alisa Engelmann
- Femke van der Veen
- Lina Erzen
- Tamar Steinberg
Tobias Frauen
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