Zofia Klepacka looks back at the ISAF Youth Worlds

Zofia Klepacka at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship 2002 © Peter Bentley / www.peterbentleypictures.com

Zofia Noceti-Klepacka (POL) is one of the most successful sailors to ever compete at the ISAF Youth Worlds Sailing Championships, winning a record four consecutive gold medals between 2001 – 2004, matching Sally Cuthbert.

From 1993 – 1996 Cuthbert won four straight gold medals in the Laser II class, a record no one thought would be matched until Klepacka came along just five years later.

Klepacka competed in venues all around the world while sailing at the ISAF Youth Worlds; in 2001 she won her first medal in Crozon-Morgat, France.

"The first qualification to ISAF Youth Worlds I won when I was 14. I was really young and it was a really good experience," commented Klepacka.

A year later Klepacka won gold in Lunenburg, Canada and then took gold again in 2003 in Madiera, Portugal. Competing in her home Polish waters in 2004 she completely eclipsed the competition winning gold for the fourth time with a race to spare against the best young sailors of her time.

"I won another qualification and I won it four times. I think I'm the only youth girl that's won it [windsurfing] four times. From 2001-2004 I won this event and I was very happy with that."

As Klepacka's career progressed she won the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal qualifying her country and self for Beijing 2008 where she finished in seventh place overall. The ISAF Youth Worlds event is unique in the fact that only one sailor from each country can compete just the same as the Olympic Games, this creates a unique similarity between the two events.

"It helps because the Youth Worlds is like a small Olympic games," explained Klepacka. "Only the best sailors from each country go and you can take good experience from it. It's a nice atmosphere and nice people and each year it's a different place."

Klepecka went on to medal again the ISAF Worlds in 2011 and followed this up with bronze at the London 2012 Sailing Competition. Klepacka is still on the campaign trail for Rio 2016 and an Olympic gold medal.

With plenty of years of competing at the highest level she understands that sacrifices need to be made to be a champion, "I think it's difficult training but if you want something, you want to be a champion and dream about that you can do everything."

With over 350 sailors competing in Tavira, Portugal 12 – 19 July 2014 Klepacka had this advice for the sailors "I can say only to everybody good luck, have fun and that is the most important, to have fun."

www.isafyouthworlds.com