Jessie Kampman Claims Silver at European Kitefoil Championships

Jessie Kampman claimed silver at the European Kitefoil Championships in Türkiye on Saturday, finishing runner-up in the Olympic discipline behind her fierce rival, France’s Lauriane Nolot.

Kampman and Nolot entered the medal final as the top two competitors from the opening series, with both carrying one point into the decider. The first final race was won by Switzerland’s Elena Lengwiler, who had started the final without a point, forcing a second race to determine the European champion.

“There were some exciting and intense battles on the water today,” Kampman said. “I crashed in the first final race.”

Kampman took the lead in the second race but was involved in an incident with another competitor. Nolot capitalized on the situation to take the race win. With her second point secured, the Frenchwoman became European champion.

Kampman finished second overall, while Lengwiler took the bronze medal. “I was leading the second race, but after the incident I wasn’t able to hold on to the victory,” Kampman said. “That’s how I ultimately ended up finishing second.”

The silver medal means Kampman has now finished runner-up at both the World and European Championships. Despite missing out on gold once again, she reflected positively on her week in Akyaka. “It was a very good event and a strong week, and there are many positives we can take from it,” she said. “We will also learn from what happened on this final day.”