2026 World Sailing Test Event: New Zealand's Kosta Gladiadis stuns fleet with wingfoil gold imedal; teammate Sean Herbert wins bronze
New Zealand wingfoiling enjoyed its biggest day yet on the global stage overnight, with Kosta Gladiadis and Sean Herbert claiming gold and bronze respectively at the World Sailing Test Event in Gdynia, Poland.
Making its debut at the regatta, wingfoil racing produced a dramatic medal series — and it was the Kiwi duo who stole the show, with Gladiadis sensationally winning the second of two medal races to snatch the title from teammate Herbert and a fleet packed with world champions and vastly more experienced riders.
The 18-year-old Manly Sailing Club rider produced the best result of his career, holding his nerve in the high-pressure final to secure his first senior international victory. Even more impressively, Gladiadis and Herbert became the first Kiwi pair to stand on the podium together at this level of the rapidly growing discipline.
Gladiadis entered the knockout medal series in second overall after a brilliant qualifying campaign, trailing only France’s Mathis Ghio — a multiple world and European champion.
The teenager was one of the standout performers throughout qualifying, recording two race wins and finishing outside the top three just three times across 11 races to book his place directly in the grand final.
Kosta Gladiadis on his way to winning the final. Photos / Robert Hajduk
Herbert was equally formidable, combining consistency with speed to finish fourth in qualifying after recording eight top-five results, including two race victories.
That result sent the 24-year-old into the semifinals, where he needed to finish inside the top two to progress to the final. He delivered under pressure, crossing the line second behind Frenchman Julien Rattotti to set up a showdown alongside the two French sailors and Gladiadis.
Herbert then put himself within touching distance of the title by winning the opening medal race, leaving him needing just one more victory to claim the overall crown.
But Gladiadis produced the race of his life when it mattered most.
The young Kiwi powered to victory in the final medal race, beating Ghio, Rattotti and Herbert to seal gold in dramatic fashion.
For Herbert, the bronze medal added another major international milestone to a breakthrough season after he claimed silver at the WingFoil Racing World Cup in Italy just days earlier — the first World Cup podium of his career.
Kosta Gladiadis and Sean Herbert (right) on the podium in Gdynia. Photos / Robert Hajduk
The pair have been among the world’s leading wingfoilers throughout 2026.
Herbert opened the year with fifth at the Formula Wing European Championships before recording back-to-back sixth-place finishes at World Cup events in Türkiye and Switzerland, finally converting his remarkable consistency into a podium finish in Italy.
Gladiadis, meanwhile, has continued an extraordinary rise through the international ranks. After finishing third in the under-19 division at the Formula Wing European Championships in Naples, he broke into the overall top 10 at the World Cup in Switzerland before defending his Formula Wing Youth World Championship silver medal two weeks ago.
His victory in Gdynia caps another outstanding international campaign — and confirms him as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Wingfoil New Zealand president David Gunn said the results highlighted the discipline's strength and potential in New Zealand.
“Wingfoil New Zealand are excited about the future of the sport of wingfoil racing,” Gunn said. “With Sean’s recent World Cup podium and now Kosta taking out the gold medal at the World Sailing Test Event in Poland with Sean in bronze, it shows the quality of the talent we have here in New Zealand.
“The growth of wingfoil racing internationally is opening up alternate pathways for young sailors to jump into an exciting sport.”
The result is the best of Gladiadis' career. Photos / Robert Hajduk
The historic result comes as wingfoil racing continues its rapid rise internationally, with the discipline selected as the invited event for the 2027 World Sailing Championships.
The Gdynia test event was used to evaluate competition formats and equipment options, with men’s and women’s events testing a range of racing formats ahead of World Sailing’s selection process for the 2027 championships.
The double podium from Gladiadis and Herbert continues an extraordinary fortnight for New Zealand sailing on the international stage.
Just hours earlier, 17-year-old Chloe Turner claimed bronze at the ILCA 6 Youth European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece.
On Friday, windfoiler Aimee Bright won silver at the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, held at the venue that will host sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A week earlier, Bella Jenkins and Jess Handley were crowned female under-19 world champions as New Zealand won the Nations Cup at the 29er World Championships in Germany.
Seb Menzies and George Lee Rush then successfully defended their 49er European title on Monday, just two months after becoming the youngest 49er world champions in history.
Final results and standings from the 2026 World Sailing Test Event available here.
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