First world titles for Wilson and Brown

Steely performances lead to podium joy in Denmark

British Sailing Team stars Emma Wilson and Andy Brown have come out on top at the 2025 iQFOiL World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, as they both claimed World Championship titles in a thrilling Medal Series finale.

Competing against over 230 of the world's top windsurfers, the British pair delivered standout performances in challenging conditions across the week to secure a memorable golden double – a landmark result at the start of the LA 2028 Olympic cycle.

In the women’s fleet, Emma Wilson secured her first senior world title with a commanding win in the final race. After a week of high-pressure racing and tight battles with Israel’s Tamar Steinberg, Germany’s Theresa Steinlein and Norway’s Maya Gysler, the 26-year-old from Dorset rose to the occasion to seal victory.

“It was a long day in the end we did three final races to decide who was the winner and finally after two seconds I won the last one!!! I'm just so happy, it doesn't feel real!! I was trying to keep cool all week, it wasn't easy but I just keep believing in my training and I knew I was super-fast, so just go fast and try and pick a good side. I have never won the senior title before, so to be Senior World champion it's just a dream since a little kid!”, commented an ecstatic Emma Wilson.

Just a year after claiming bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Wilson’s gold in Aarhus follows her recent success at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, showcasing the athlete's skill and determination.

In the men’s fleet, Andy Brown delivered a similarly sensational performance to win the World Championship crown, holding off fierce challenges from France’s Tom Arnoux, Brazil’s Mateus Isaac, and Italy’s Nicolò Renna.

After splitting the first two races with Arnoux, Brown stamped his authority in the final to secure the title, his first at senior world level.

“It was exciting, that's for sure, it was really like up and down, shifting left and right, you need to have a bit of luck and and luckily it went my way and then so super congratulations to Tom and Nicolò as well for 2nd and 3rd, I am really happy!! This title means a lot, I've been working for this for a long time, being full time windsurfing since 2017, I didn't know it was coming this year but I was hoping it would come at some point, so super happy!! I can't believe I won.. it's going to take a couple of months and then I'll get a bit cocky and then need to come back down again, so we'll see what happens but I'm shocked, yeah, super happy!!” commented Andy Brown.

Brown’s victory adds to an already impressive season, following a silver medal at the 2024 European Championships, and signals a strong future for the British men’s iQFOiL squad.

As celebrations continue, the future of British windsurfing looks even brighter with an announcement that the 2026 iQFOiL World Championships will be hosted by the RYA at Weymouth & Portland – marking the first time the UK will stage a major championship in the class and the first Olympic windsurfing world title event on British waters since 2009.

Emma Wilson said: “We have a big squad in the UK, all training every day, so for us to show our home to everyone else, I think it'll be really cool and it's probably one of the best places to iQFOiL in my opinion! I've gained a lot through windsurfing. I went full time when I was 16, so nearly 10 years of my life. I think it teaches you a lot of lessons and I hope we can inspire some young kids to come and do what we do.”

Racing is planned to start on Monday 21 September 2026 and will run through to a gripping knockout finale on Saturday 26 September 2026, held in front of onlookers at a harbourside Race Village, as well as streamed live online.