Kiran Badloe and Yunxiu Lu have taken out the 2019 RS:X World Championships, in Torbole, Italy.
The event held in Lake Garda attracted 236 windsurfers from all corners of the globe and guaranteed spots in the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The local winds played tricks on the organization, and several races had to be canceled.
Fortunately, on the last day, the breeze picked up gradually, and the women's fleet was quickly sent to the water in 8-to-10 knots of wind.
Lu won the gold medal, but Katy Spychakov was one of the standouts of the competition. She secured the silver medal in the women's division, and the gold medal in the Under 21.
"I had lost the youth world championship here in 2017, so it's a really good feeling. We are a group of three girls from Israel, and we have been together since 1999. We're friends and push each other all the way," said Spychakov.
In the men's fleet, Badloe knew that he only had to cruise to confirm the world title. And that was precisely what he did.
"I wasn't nervous today. I just had to keep an eye on everyone. So, I just went fast," added the newly crowned RS:X world champion.
Eight new countries locked in tickets for Tokyo 2020: Belarus, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Korea, Lithuania, Switzerland, and the United States.
2019 RS:X World Championships | Results
Men
1. Kiran Badloe (NED)
2. Dorian van Rijsselberghe (NED)
3. Pierre Le Coq (FRA)
Women
1. Yunxiu Lu (CHN)
2. Katy Spychakov (ISR)
3. Lilian De Geus (NED)
Under 21 Men
1. Tom Reuveny (ISR)
2. Andy Brown (GBR)
3. Sil Hoekstra (NED)
Under 21 Women
1. Katy Spychakov (ISR)
2. Giorgia Speciale (ITA)
3. Emma Wilson (GBR)