Full Breakdown
Israeli Windsurfers Triumph at European Championships, Target Los Angeles 2028
5/24/2026, 12:53:49 PM
Event Overview: Gold and Silver at the iQFOiL Open European Championships
On Saturday in Portugal, the iQFOiL Open European Championships saw Israeli windsurfer Tamar Steinberg win gold. Sources differ on teammate Shahar Tibi’s placement—some list her as silver-medalist, others as bronze-medalist. Daniela Peleg placed fourth among Europeans and sixth overall; Olympic champion Tom Reuveny finished fourth in the men’s field.
Key Figures & Team
- Tamar Steinberg – senior-rank athlete under 20, former world-championship runner-up and April World Cup winner in Hyères.
- Shahar Tibi – leading Israeli windsurfer; exact podium position remains disputed.
- Daniela Peleg – fourth-place finisher among European women.
- Coach Shahar Zubari (also cited as Shahar Tzuberi) – national team coach praised the athletes’ focus and goal-orientation.
- Israeli Sailing Association – governing body that highlighted the team’s collective success.
Data & Statistics
- Gold: Tamar Steinberg (women’s division)
- Silver or Bronze: Shahar Tibi (women’s division) – conflicting reports
- Fourth: Daniela Peleg (women’s division) – fourth among Europeans, sixth overall
- Men’s top Israeli: Tom Reuveny – fourth place; Yoav Omer – fifth place
- Steinberg’s recent achievements: World Cup victory in Hyères (April) and prior world-championship runner-up.
Official Statements & Responses
The Israeli Sailing Association expressed “enormous satisfaction” with the results, noting the depth of both the women’s and men’s squads. Steinberg said she felt “in good shape” and was “focused on giving it my all,” and she also described herself as “very happy” and “proud to represent Israel.” She emphasized her aim to qualify for Los Angeles 2028 as a gold-medal contender. Coach Zubari highlighted Steinberg’s “goal-oriented” approach and the team’s commitment to “target competitions” on the road to the Olympics.
Why It Matters: Olympic Implications
The podium finishes reinforce Israel’s position as a contender in the upcoming iQFOiL Olympic class. Steinberg’s stated goal of arriving in Los Angeles as “a clear and natural candidate for the gold medal” underscores the strategic importance of the European Championships as a benchmark for Olympic qualification and athlete development.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on Shahar Tibi’s final standing: the Times of Israel and the Israeli Sailing Association list her as silver-medalist, while the championship website records her as bronze-medalist. Additionally, the national team coach is identified as Shahar Zubari in some reports and Shahar Tzuberi in others. The sources do not provide a unified official statement on Tibi’s standing, leaving the exact medal tally unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am happy to win the competition,” — Tamar Steinberg, Israeli windsurfer
- “Over the past few months, I felt that I was in good shape. I wanted to come to the competition and make that happen. Until now, I had been a world championship runner up, and I already wanted to win a major target competition. I was concentrated and focused. I knew I needed to give it my all. I did not have my best abilities on the water today, but it happened because I felt I needed to do it. I feel that I have to be the best during this period, because while others are fighting for the country as soldiers, I am an outstanding athlete. Shahar Tibi finished second and showed great ability. The boys also competed well. We have a great women’s and men’s team.” — Tamar Steinberg, Israeli windsurfer
- “Tamar is extremely committed to the process and very goal-oriented.” — Coach Shahar Tzuberi, Israeli national team coach (as quoted by Haaretz)
- “From her perspective, the aim is to reach the Los Angeles Olympics as a gold-medal contender — that’s what we’re working toward,” he was quoted as saying by Haaretz.” — Coach Shahar Zubari, Israeli national team coach
