2026 Formula Wing Youth Foiling World Championship: New Zealand's Kosta Gladiadis in contention as medal series looms
Kosta Gladiadis will try to chase down Italy's Ernesto De Amicis in a make-or-break medal series overnight (NZ time), with the 18-year-old Kiwi's hopes of winning the Formula Wing Youth Foiling World Championship very much alive — despite the Italian's commanding 21-point lead.
De Amicis has been near-untouchable in Silvaplana, Switzerland, winning 13 of the last 14 races to build his advantage over Gladiadis. But none of that will matter when the finals begin — the title will be decided through a knockout finals series where the first rider in the grand final to win two races is crowned world champion.
Thursday marked the opening day of Gold Fleet competition, with the regatta's leading riders going head-to-head in steady 17-18 knot winds and gusts reaching 26 knots — and it immediately lived up to its billing.
Gladiadis entered the day just 4.5 points back after De Amicis had swept all eight races on Wednesday. The Italian showed no signs of relenting, adding five wins from six Gold Fleet races to stretch his lead to 21 points. But Gladiadis matched him for consistency, finishing inside the top five in all five of his races — a second place his best result of the day — to retain second overall and secure direct passage to the grand final.
Kosta Gladiadis has qualified for the medal series in second overall. Photos / Robert Hajduk, IWSA Media
The medal series begins with riders ranked third through 10th contesting the quarterfinals, with the top two from each round advancing through the semifinals and into the grand final where De Amicis and Gladiadis await.
"With the leading contenders now racing together in the Gold Fleet, every decision on the water carried greater weight than ever, and even minor mistakes could dramatically reshuffle the order," Gladiadis said. "Tomorrow I'll push as hard as I can."
He'll do so with momentum behind him. The Manly Sailing Club rider has steadily established himself as one of the sport's most exciting young prospects this season — finishing 11th overall and third in the under-19 division at the Formula Wing European Championships in Naples in April, before backing that up with another strong showing in Türkiye and breaking into the top 10 at the World Cup in Switzerland earlier this week.
Latest results and standings here.
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