Israeli Windsurfer Tamar Steinberg Crowned World Champion in Weymouth
Tamar Steinberg crowned iQFoil world champion in Weymouth, leading an Israeli sweep alongside Sharon Kantor and Daniella Peleg, setting her sights on the Los Angeles Olympics.
The women's iQFoil World Championship final in Weymouth, England, felt remarkably like an Israeli national championship. Tamar Steinberg, Sharon Kantor, and Daniella Peleg claimed three of the top four spots, with only Australia's Stella Bilger breaking up the blue-and-white sweep. This stellar performance by Shahar Zubari's squad demonstrated the immense strength of the Israeli windsurfing team.
From the start, the team dominance narrowed down to a duel between two athletes. Kantor, the Olympic silver medalist, started strong and took the lead. Steinberg, who had controlled the competition all week, found herself chasing from behind at the most crucial moment. Rounding the second mark, she knew she had to overtake her teammate and close friend.
The Road to Gold
Steinberg attacked upwind, found the right path, and crossed the virtual finish line first. Celebrating her 20th birthday shortly before, the Kibbutz Nachsholim native completed a dream year by securing both the European and World Championship titles. Kantor took the silver, Peleg finished fourth, and local star Emma Wilson missed the podium entirely.
Weymouth holds a special significance for Steinberg. During the 2012 Olympic Games, Lee Korziz arrived there as a gold-medal favorite but suffered from a rare blood disorder, finishing sixth. Young Steinberg watched from her living room. Fourteen years later, she closed a poignant circle by standing on the exact same site while "Hatikvah" played in her honor.
A Legacy of Windsurfing
Steinberg's family background is deeply intertwined with Israeli sailing. She is the daughter of legendary Olympic coach Gor Steinberg, who previously trained Gal Fridman, Korziz, and Zubari. Today, Zubari—her father's former pupil—leads her and the rest of the world-class women's team.
Despite her massive success, Steinberg remains a humble soldier in the Navy base, set to complete her mandatory military service in two months. Operating without an agent or an active Instagram account, her singular focus is clear: reaching the Los Angeles Olympics as the favorite and returning with gold.
"I didn't care if it was Sharon fighting me for gold or someone else," Steinberg said. "What mattered was that the race felt very tactical. Sharon and I know each other on a psychological level, and it felt like training."
Looking Ahead to Los Angeles
Physical fitness has been a cornerstone of Steinberg's success. Training six days a week with coach Eyal Shalomi, she combines rigorous aerobic workouts, weightlifting, and technical mastery in high-wind conditions.
With less than two years remaining until the next Olympic Games, the competition within the Israeli team remains fierce. However, Steinberg is fully prepared for the battle. "My goal is an Olympic gold medal, and I want to arrive as the favorite," she concluded.
