Lake Thebes, in Brazilthe usual scene of the biggest duels in the field, witnessed the amazing return of the Spanish windsurfer Claudia Leonwho signed one of the most memorable performances of her career when she became runner-up in the world of windsurfing in freestyle and during the final test of the GKA Kite World Tour. This achievement in the international elite cements the athlete born in Los Alcazares, Murcia, as one of the leading figures in current windsurfing. But the value of this wound becomes even more valuable when one learns that the young athlete underwent surgery and was away from her passion, the sea and the waves for almost a year.
At the age of 24, the runner-up in the freestyle category secured second place thanks to a performance that the event’s judges described as stable, strong and technically polished, advancing comfortably to the final. In the final test in Brazilian waters, Leon excelled with his style, length and technical control, securing victory. Second place in the world rankings. The title of world champion remained in her homeland, as Brazilian Bruna Caggia was crowned after a flawless final in which she executed extremely precise maneuvers. The difference was marked by the historic “Pete Rose 5” performance by Caggia, who managed to distance herself from the Spaniard and the Italian Francesca Bagnoli, an athlete who took third place on the podium on which her Spanish rival climbed again.
A very difficult journey
For Claudia León, this second place carries a very special emotional and sporting weight, as it comes just two years after beating… Serious knee injury Which kept her out of the competition arena for several months. The athlete had suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that kept her out of the sea until December 2024. After the diagnosis, the young woman from Murcia faced a long rehabilitation process. He re-adapted at the CAR Infanta Cristina de Los Narejos and put himself in the hands of trainer Mauro Clemente to finish his return to the GKA Freestyle World Tour. This path was a very difficult journey for the young woman, with many ups and downs, as she had to learn to listen to her body better.
The difficulty of returning to the first competition was not only physical, as Claudia Leone admitted that she was very afraid and suffered from great anxiety before the competition. Brazil. Windsurfing highlighted the crucial support provided by her psychiatrist, Cesarina Faggiano, who helped her overcome the euphoria of her injury and her fears. At the end of the last round, the athlete expressed her feelings at that moment, pointing out that the result meant a lot to her. The runner-up reaffirms Leon, who was previously ranked second in the world rankings and achieved third place in the GKA Freestyle Championship in 2023, which restores her deteriorating confidence after she demonstrated a very high technical level.
The Spanish windsurfing elite, which is now celebrating Leon’s success, has for some time had another figure as Gisela Pulidowhose career is characterized by speed and world domination. Pulido became world champion for the first time in November 2004, when she was just 10 years old, a feat that earned her a Guinness World Record as the youngest windsurfing world champion in history. Pulido continued his winning streak by reaffirming his title a year later, in November 2005, in Noumea, New Caledonia. In October 2005, he had already won gold at the Gravity Games H2O in Perth, Australia. When Gisela Pulido was just 12 years old, in November 2006, she became world champion for the third time in a row, a feat she repeated in August 2007 in GermanyThus, they add their fourth title in a row.
Her dominance continued in October 2008, when she became world champion for the fifth time in a row chili. He then won world titles in 2010 in Noumea and repeated the victory in 2011 in Sankt Peter-Ording, Germany. More recently, Gisela Pulido has focused her career on Formula Kites, claiming her first continental medal (third) in 2022 at the European Championships in Lepanto. On the heels of runner-up Pulido Claudia Leonwhich is based on overcoming a serious injury, reflects the influence of Spanish talent and their commitment to professionalizing the freestyle method. Despite this sweet taste of silver, Leon herself has declared that her work is not finished until she achieves her goal of becoming a world champion, and she now feels stronger than ever to fight for it.
Windsurfing is one of the sports that is still growing in our country, and there are countless places where it can be practiced thanks to the power of the waves on our coasts. the Canary Islands also expenses It is the tip of the iceberg of beaches where it is easy to see, with little wind, countless athletes prepare their kites and set out into the sea to enjoy one of those truly aesthetic sports in which those who practice it are able to communicate with Mother Nature and with the possibility of having a wonderful time alone in the sea and trying to jump several meters high thanks to a large wave.