Pavlos Kontides finishes eighth at the Hyères Grand Slam

Cypriot sailor Pavlos Kontides secured eighth place overall in the ILCA7 category at the Grand Slam of Hyères, which concluded on April 26, 2026. This was his first major competition of the year, following a period of illness and injury recovery. During the final day, Kontides placed second and seventh in the two decisive races. The event utilized a new scoring system involving two final races for the top ten, a format expected to be used at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Australian Matt Wearn won the gold medal, while British sailors Michael Beckett and Elliot Hanson claimed silver and bronze respectively. Other Cypriot athletes also participated, with Marilena Makri finishing 16th in the ILCA6 category and Natasa Lappa placing 18th in the iQFoil class. The regatta serves as a preparation stage for the upcoming European Championship in May.