Brazilian wins 2021 Optimist World Championship

Riva del Garda, Italy (July 9, 2021) – Brazilian Alex Di Francesco Kuhl overcame a 259-boat fleet to win the 2021 Optimist World Championship. Entering today trailing leader Gil Hackel (USA) by five points, the Brazilian had the better of the two races held to take the title.

“An incredible emotion to win the World Championship, so far from home, in my last year of activity in the Optimist Class,” said Di Francesco Kuhl who will be aging out. “It was a wonderful Championship, I want to congratulate all my opponents with whom the challenges have been fantastic.”

It is the first time for Brazil to hold the Optimist world title. In 1991, Brazil won the Team World Championship and contributing to Brazil’s success then was Rodrigo Amado himself, who today is coach of the Brazilian team and accompanied Alex Di Francesco Kuhl towards his accomplishment.

Winning the women’s title was Lomane Valade (FRA), who finished seventh overall. Lisa Vucetti (ITA) and Marisa Alejandra Vicens (ESP) completed the podium.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Final Results (Top 10 of 259; 10races, 1 discard)

With a maximum of five athletes per nation, three consecutive days of qualifying on July 2-4 divided the fleet into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Emerald groups for the final stages, held July 7-9. On July 5-6, the participants competed within their nation for the Team World Championship.