First Olympic kiteboarding gold goes to GB’s Eleanor Aldridge, USA’s Daniela Moroz finishes fourth

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RESULTS

Great Britain's Eleanor Aldridge won Olympic kiteboarding's first ever gold on Thursday, with France's Lauriane Nolot securing silver and Annelous Lammerts of the Netherlands taking bronze in the women's event.

American Daniela Moroz finished fourth in the first-to-three final, as the medal favorite was surprisingly kept off the podium.

Due to persistent wind issues, the kiteboarding competition was dramatically shortened during the opening series. The normal thermal sea breeze just didn't materialize for four days off the coast of Marseille. With the kiteboards making their Olympic debut this year, it was expected that this new sport — which features kites that can easily sail at least three times the speed of the wind — would be exciting for racers and spectators alike.

And with winds holding up for the race on Thursday, kiteboarders hit speeds of more than 30 knots — making for an impressive sight.

America’s best hope for a medal rested on the shoulders of 23-year-old Moroz from Lafayette, California. She is a six-time world champion and the top ranked kiteboarder in the world.

She got off to an uncharacteristic slow start with a seventh out of 20 boats in the first race of the opening series, but was able to come back with a 3-4-1-2-7 to earn a top seed in the semifinal round.

Her first task on Thursday was to make it through the semifinal. She won the heat against riders from Switzerland, Israel and Australia and advanced to the final, where she would face Nolot, the top seed on home water, along with Aldridge and Lammerts.

The final format awards the gold medal to the first rider to win three races. The top seed from entered the final credited two wins and the second seed is spotted one win. If Nolot won the first race, the race the regatta would be over.

With the wind blowing 11mph from the west, Moroz finished Race 1 in third place, 16 seconds behind the leader — Aldridge. The win for the British rider extended the final to a second race and brought her to within one win of the gold. It also meant another chance for Moroz.

Moroz needed a win to stay alive in the regatta. It was a tough challenge for her against three sailors who were noticeably taller and larger, which is advantageous on kiteboards.

The four riders looked frantic and determined as they came off the line in the second final. Aldridge took an early lead and slowly stretched out to a seal a nine second victory over Lammerts for the gold medal. Moroz was within one second of Lammerts approaching the third turning mark and was penalized by the on-the-water umpires for a rule's infraction of impeding the Dutch sailor during a maneuver.

As a result of the penalty, Moroz would have extra points added to her score and ended up fourth — no medal. At the age of 23, Moroz can certainly return for another try in Los Angeles in 2028.

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