Australian athlete Breiana Whitehead is set to represent her country in the semifinals of kiteboarding at the Paris Olympics. This new sport, which falls under sailing, is making its debut in the games and is being held at the picturesque port of Marseilles in southern France.
Kiteboarding, known as Formula Kite in the Olympics, combines elements of traditional kiteboarding with high-speed races. Athletes ride on a small board with a hydrofoil, propelled by a large kite. They navigate a challenging course at speeds reaching 80 kilometers per hour, all while avoiding collisions with other competitors.
Breiana Whitehead, a first-time Olympian, has made it through to the semifinal stages. In the qualification rounds, Whitehead finished between third and tenth, with only the top two directly advancing to the finals.
The semifinals consist of six races, with the goal being to secure three race wins to guarantee a place in the gold medal final. If Whitehead advances, she will compete in a final series that could include up to six races. The top two qualifiers from the preliminary rounds start the final with one or two race wins already.
In the women’s division, Whitehead is ranked fourth globally, behind the United States’ Daniela Moroz, France’s Lauriane Nolot, and Britain’s Eleanor Aldridge. Nolot and Aldridge have already secured spots in the gold medal race series.
In the men’s division, 17-year-old Max Maeder from Singapore, the current world champion, leads the rankings. Maeder is renowned for his dominance in the sport and has a substantial reward awaiting him should he win gold, with Singapore promising a million-dollar prize.
Kiteboarding, also known as foil-racing, involves athletes using a harness and leaning back as their boards lift out of the water with the help of a foil. They steer their kites with a control bar while maneuvering around tight corners at speeds up to 82 kilometers per hour.
The sport, likened to Formula 1 for its speed and precision, occasionally attracts celebrity interest. Daniela Moroz, a six-time US world champion, humorously expressed her desire to see rapper Snoop Dogg at the event, suggesting he would be an entertaining commentator.
Moroz said, “I think it would be hilarious if Snoop Dogg came down here and commentated on the sailing. Especially on our medal races. I think that would be epic.”
