Congratulations to Margarita Konstantinova who has medaled in three National Windfoiling competitions in recent weeks.

Margarita, a year 13 student, has reached the podium in the following events:

• 2nd, youth girl, Windfoil IQFoil Nationals 2025

• 2nd, youth girl, Foil Bay Of Islands

• 1st, youth girl, Oceanbridge NZ high performance sports regatta

This follows her success in December 2024 when she won the Australian Junior Windfoil national title in Melbourne.

Margarita is fortunate to race against members of the NZ Women Olympic Squad. This allows her to follow and learn from some of the best in the world.

A huge congratulations to Margarita for performing so well on the national stage.

Wind foiling is now an OIympic sport, after making its debut in Paris last year.

Each windfoiler can reach speeds of approximately 50 kilometres per hour. To reach the podium in a windfoiling competition, you need to finish first or be close to the best, over a series of multiple races, usually 15, over a three or four day competition. The average sailing distance is about 60-80 kilometres per day.

This year is Margarita's first competing in the youth division, moving up from the junior ranks last year. The youth division sails with more powerful kit and Margarita had only three training sessions with her new sail before taking part competitively.

Margarita competed in the same events where a range of Olympians participated, including Graeme Morris (AUS) who took home a silver medal from Paris 2024 (pictured with Margarita below), Veerle ten Have (NZ) who finished tenth in Paris and Josh Armit (NZ) who finished fourth in Paris. This is very motivational and inspirational for Margarita to train more.

Margarita is the only female youth competitor in windfoiling from the South Island.