Diary of Tokyo 2020 windsurfing bronze medallist turned Paris 2024 iQFOiL hopeful
Emma Wilson has been documenting her experience of changing disciplines from the now defunct Olympic sport of windsurfing to the new super-speedy foil class. We follow the Brit’s social media trail to see how the journey is going ahead of the Princess Sofia Regatta, which starts Friday (31 March).
Sailing
“Super happy,” is how Emma Wilson felt on 13 July 2021 in Sagami Bay, Japan. Well, you would be if you’d just won an Olympic bronze medal, Great Britain’s first women’s windsurfing medal at the Games since 2008.
Heading into the final leg, the then 22-year-old who was competing at her debut Games, was guaranteed a medal. In a physically challenging race the Rio 2016 champion, Charline Picon of France pipped Wilson to claim silver, while Lu Yunxiu of People’s Republic of China come out on top to secure gold.
“I tried so hard in that race - I just kept going and going," said Wilson afterwards. “I just want to win, but any medal is amazing. I'm super happy and I just gave it everything I had."
Now Paris 2024 is the aim, but with a twist.
The new super-speedy iQFOiL replaces windsurfing for the next Games in France, with the Brit, and her contemporaries turning their attention to the faster, more dramatic-looking discipline, in which the board raises out of the water on hydrofoils, akin to a watery version of Marty McFly on his skateboard.
So how is the switch going? We follow the Brit’s social media trail to see how the journey is progressing so far.
iQFOiL journey begins
13 Aug 2021, UK – various locations
Two weeks post Games and Wilson has been welcomed home by friends and family, saw her nan for the first time since the COVID outbreak, caught up with her brother, a sailor, for the first time in 18 months, and enjoys hanging out with her dog.
8 September 2021, Portland, Dorset, UK
Wilson takes to the water at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the base for the British Sailing Team and a legacy from London 2012 – to try the new sport, iQFOiL.
Sailing close to the wind
8 Oct 2021, Portland, UK
A month in and Wilson is flying, but the 2021 iQFOiL European Championships on the Olympic course in Marseille, France from 22-28 October comes too soon for this foiling newbie. But a trip back to her old school to inspire kids instead gives time for reflection on where it all began.
“An amazing day back at my old school… Back to where my love of sport first started. Playing hockey in the mud, on the grass and trying to get in every team so I didn’t have to go to lessons🤣🤭”.
7 Nov 2021, Portland, Dorset
Wilson’s first race since winning her Olympic medal reignited the joy in competition and provided a valuable learning experience.
“New Olympic class but had so much fun, my smile was back😉 Who knew racing with 4 boards could be that close and exciting!😮😉
"Lots to learn and a long way to go but i think it’s gonna be a fun few years😜😅”
25 Nov 2021
Time for reflection on her journey to Olympic bronze via a reel documenting the rigours of training – particularly challenging during lockdown due to COVID – through to the joy of an Olympic Games' experience, podium included. All added motivation for Paris 2024.
Rough seas
31 December 2021
A post at year’s end concluded, “2021, a year I will never forget. A dream come true, thank you to everyone who supports me and believes in me. Looking forward to new adventures in 2022”.
Jan 2022, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Those 2022 adventures begin by heading to sunnier climes for a batch of warm-weather training where the drama the new discipline brings becomes all too clear:
“Loving the chaos, carnage, and crashing the iqfoil brings!”
Here, the 2022 iQFOiL International Games take place from 24-29 January. In second place on the final day, Wilson dropped from second to fifth in what she describes as a “tough race with the winner takes all format deciding the week but that’s how it is”.
Before signing off for a break, Wilson congratulates the medal winners, Pilar Lamadrid of Spain who claimed gold, and France’s Marion Mortefon and Lucie Belbeoch who secured silver and bronze, respectively.
4 Feb 2022, time out
Turns out relaxing for Wilson involves still being on the water, but with slightly different equipment – with the wing kit, the sail isn’t even attached to the board.
Battle royal
12 March 2022, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
After more blocks of training and rest periods, Wilson wins the season’s warm-up regatta in the sailing mecca of Palma, Mallorca.
By the end of the month, with the Princess Sofia Regatta looming, Wilson reflects on where she’s at.
“Loving the challenge of this new class and pushing my limits. Soon the [Princess Sofia Regatta] starts next week, the biggest fleet I’ve raced in this new discipline, so we’ll see what happens.”
9 Apr 2022, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
Eighth place in a sport Wilson had taken up just six months before and against some of the best in the world in the discipline, left Wilson satisfied with her progress.
“Pretty happy with my sailing, some mistakes and a bit too much swimming sometimes but overall pretty happy with my improvements after sailing iqfoil for only 6 months.”
Plain sailing
22 May 2022, Lake Garda, Italy
Wilson feels "proud" to come second at the iQFOiL European Championships in Lake Garda, Italy, including wearing the leader’s yellow bib for three days, which she says was "pretty cool". The Brit couldn’t quite get over the line with the win, congratulating France’s gold medallist Hélène Noesmoen and Maja Dziarnowska of Poland in third place.
“I’m really enjoying my time in this class after not knowing what to expect when i changed from rsx in September 👊🏼😜”, she posted.
9 August 2022, Marseille, France
More honing of the craft takes place over the summer months, in training and competition, with a practice session on the waters of the Paris 2024 venue in Marseille Marina particularly rewarding.
Smooth sailing
22 Oct 2022, Brest, France
Despite breaking her toe just two weeks before the second-ever iQFOiL world championships, taking place 14-22 October in Brest, France, Wilson claims a confidence-boosting fourth place.
25 Oct 2022
The world championships rounds out the first iQFOiL season for Wilson and with the start of the 2023 season imminent – the Princess Sofia Regatta takes place from 31 March to 8 April in Palma, Mallorca – and with just 16 months to the start of the Paris Games, Wilson’s quest for an Olympic berth and a potential medal in the new class, is looking hopeful.
The day after claiming bronze at Tokyo 2020, however, Wilson shared a post on Instagram about something equally as important to her as the hardware, in whichever discipline she chooses to compete in:
“So many photos and amazing memories from yesterday but for me, this one is the best. The beauty of sport. Race for your life all week and be great friends still at the end.”
Next events in iQFOiL schedule for 2023
31 March - 8 April 2023 Princess Sofia Regatta 2023, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
6-14 May 2023 iQFOiL European Championships, Patras, Greece
7-16 July 2023 Paris 2024 Test Event, Marseille, France