Los angeles: Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides added another major achievement to his career by winning the silver medal at the Los Angeles Grand Slam in San Pedro, the venue where he hopes to make his sixth Olympic appearance at the 2028 Games. Kontides entered the medal races in first place but finished eighth and ninth in the two deciding races, securing second place overall in the ILCA 7 class. Australia's Matt Wearn claimed the gold medal, while Britain's Michael Beckett took bronze.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this marks the second consecutive year that the Limassol Nautical Club sailor has won a medal at the Los Angeles Grand Slam. Last year, he claimed bronze at the event which was held in Long Beach.
The latest success continues an impressive 2026 campaign for the two-time Olympic silver medalist. In May, Kontides won the European Championship in Croatia for the third time in his career. In June, he also returned to the top of the ILCA 7 (Laser) World Rankings for the sixth time overall and the first time in 11 months.
His next major target is the ILCA 7 World Championship in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, to be held from August 23 to 30, at the same venue where he won silver at a coach regatta in late June.
"I am very happy with my performance throughout the week. I was very consistent," Kontides said after receiving his silver medal. "Today things did not go 100% according to plan, but I am happy with second place. Now it is time to rest back home, and then prepare for the World Championship in Ireland at the end of August," he added.