2024 Olympics: A Complete Guide to Formula Kite
The newest addition to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris – Formula Kite racing! This high-octane sport will be the fastest sailing sport in Olympic history. Here's everything you need to know about Formula Kite's Olympic debut.
Blazing Speed Like Never Before
Formula Kite is the fastest sailing event ever included in the Olympics! Racers hurtle across the water at an astonishing 25 mph upwind and a jaw-dropping 40 mph downwind, making for an adrenaline-pumping spectacle.
Location: Marseille, France
The official battleground will be the picturesque port city of Marseille, France. From August 4th to 8th, 2024, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. (ET), the world's top kiteboarders will battle it out for Olympic supremacy.
Course Race
Formula Kite uses the course race format. Athletes navigate a designated course, tackling both upwind and downwind legs. Success hinges on a perfect blend of speed and strategic maneuvering for optimal positioning. Races are short and intense, averaging around 10-12 minutes each.
Olympic Entry
Forty elite athletes (20 men and 20 women) will earn the coveted right to compete in Paris. Here's how they'll secure their spots:
- Host Country (1 Entry): as the host nation, France automatically gets one entry.
- World Championship (8 Entry): The top 8 finishers at the 2023 World Championships gain direct entry.
- Continental Champions (6 Entry): 6 additional spots are awarded to top contenders from each continent outside the top 8.
- Last Chance Regatta (5 Entry): A last-chance qualification regatta determines The final five spots.
Meet the Athletes
Meet your Olympic qualifying athlete
- Men
- Axel Mazella (FRA)
- Maximilian Maeder (SIN)
- Toni Vodisek (SLO)
- Valentin Bontus (AUT)
- Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
- Denis Taradin (CYP)
- Qbin Huang (CHN)
- Martin Dolenc (CRO)
- Bruno Lobo (BRA)
- Jannis Maus (GER)
- Tiger Tyson (ANT)
- Lukas Walton-Keim (NZL)
- Jean de Falbaire (MRI)
- Joseph Jonathan Weston (THA)
- Victor Bolanos (COL)
- Connor Bainbridge (GBR)
- Maksymilian Zakowski (POL)
- Markus Edegran (USA) - Link
- Cameron Maramenidis (GRE)
- Dor Zarka (ISR)
- Women
- Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
- Eleanor Aldridge (GBR)
- Daniela Moroz (USA) - Link
- Annelous Lammerts (NED)
- Jingle Chen (CHN)
- Breiana Whitehead (AUS)
- Maya Ashkenazi (ISR)
- Leonie Meyer (GER)
- Maggie Eillen Pescetto (ITA)
- Gisela Pulido (ESP)
- Emily Claire Bugeja (CAN)
- Justina Kitchen (NZL)
- Julie Paturau (MRI)
- Fawn Benjapa (THA)
- Maria Catalina Turienzo (ARG)
- Elena Lengwiler (SUI)
- Julia Damasiewicz (POL)
- Derin Atakan (TUR)
- Alina Kornelli (AUT)
- Mafalda Pires de Lima (POR)
Standardized Gear
To ensure fairness, all equipment used in the competition is pre-approved by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and World Sailing. Both men and women will compete with the same standardized gear. 2020-2024 Olympic approved gear list.
The Format
The competition will unfold in two stages:
- Open Series:
This consists of 16 races with all 20 teams. Points are awarded based on finishing positions (1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points, etc.). The top 10 teams with the lowest cumulative score advance to the Medal Series.
- Medal Series:
The top 10 teams from the qualifiers battle it out for the Olympic bragging rights. The top 2 teams progress directly to the final. The remaining qualifiers are divided into two semifinals based on seeding. The first team to win three races in each semifinal advances to the final. The 3rd and 4th seed teams start the semifinal with two wins, and the 5th and 6th seed teams start with one win. The final follows the same format, with the first to win three races claiming Olympic glory.
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