Sebastian Kördel and Theresa Steinlein have taken a big step closer to their dream of making their Olympic debut. At the iQFoil Games in Cadiz, Kördel fought his way to the end despite a crash and injury, finishing sixth and scoring 15 valuable points for his Olympic elimination account. Halfway through the series, Kördel crashed into the sail that had fallen into the water in front of him at a turning mark at a speed of just under 30 knots and was injured. had suffered a severe thigh contusion drawn in.
Just one more hurdle on course for Marseille
Germany's best iQFoil windsurfer Theresa Steinlein came within a hair's breadth of victory off Cadiz and even collected 22 points for her personal Olympic qualification account. This means that both top iQFoil athletes from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein (NRV) have "only" one big task left to solve in the battle for their Olympic ticket at the third and final qualifying regatta (Trofeo Princesa Sofía at the beginning of April): they have to be placed among the top ten nations in the final ranking of all three qualifying regattas.
For Sebastian Kördel, this task is somewhat more difficult than for Theresa Steinlein after an unfortunate World Championship 2024 (28th place off Lanzarote in early February). However, both iQFoilers believe that they can overcome this hurdle with good results.
I'm in good spirits for Palma." Sebastian Kördel
Sebastian Kördel, who trains under DSV coach Dom Tidey, has so far finished eleventh and fifth at the World Championships and the iQFoil Games in Cadiz. The 33-year-old 2022 World Champion and 2023 Vice World Champion was optimistic after two of three qualifying regattas in Cadiz: "My crash here at the iQFoil Games was unfortunate. But I was still able to collect valuable qualifying points and am now looking forward to the Trofeo Pricesa Sofía. The area suits me and we also have our traditional NRV evening there. It will be great to have everyone there. I'm in good spirits for Palma."
Theresa Steinlein, who has worked hard for her advancement in the German Sailing Team's perspective squad and has now entered the Olympic home straight with coach Daniel Slijk, has a similar view. The twin sister of the 49erFX helmswoman, Kiel Week winner and SailGP strategist Sophie Steinlein, who is just one minute younger, can secure her Olympic ticket at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in the Bay of Palma at the beginning of April, just like Sebastian Kördel. With a view to her 11th and 2nd place finishes to date, she has set herself the goal of reaching the medal race at the Spanish classic.
Steinlein's steep windsurfing career
The windsurfer, who only switched from a sailing dinghy to the iQFoil board in 2020, has completed a steep and successful learning curve. She now has what it takes to be one of the best in the world. "She has made enormous technical progress and always has a very good overview of the course," says DSV coach Daniel Slijk, paying tribute to his top pupil.
Theresa Steinlein herself also knows that her sailing training at the start of her career serves her well today in Olympic windsurfing. Smiling, she says: "The tactics from sailing help me. I make a plan before every race and think that I'm smarter than the others because I come from sailing." Theresa Steinlein, who tends to be rather light, has also worked intensively on her weaknesses in strong and medium winds. "These weaknesses have now become my strengths," she says.
Lina Erzen from Slovenia, who also won the PWA event in Japan at the end of last season, won the iQFoil Games ahead of Steinlein. Ingrid Puusta from Estonia came third. Alisa Engelmann came 21st and Lena Haverland was 33rd.
Spain's Nacho Baltasar Summers won the men's race ahead of Cadiz, with the two Poles Pawel Tarnowski and Michael Polak completing the podium behind him. Fabian Wolf finished in 25th place, Jacob Ditzen was 42nd, Nils Präger came 33rd in the male U19 juniors, Siddharta Hummler was 42nd and Matti Winkler was 30th in the U17 classification.
