Canadian sailor Valentino Blewett has captured his first medal at a major international competition, earning a bronze in the Men’s U19 category at the iQFoil Youth & Junior European Championships in Varkiza, Greece. The 18-year-old from Whistler, B.C., delivered an impressive performance across a gruelling week of racing that concluded on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Blewett competed in 21 races throughout the championship, finishing in the top 10 on ten occasions, including four outright wins. Those consistent results placed him fourth overall heading into Saturday’s Final Series, which featured the top 10 sailors from the Qualifying and Elimination series.
His fourth-place standing earned him a direct berth in the semifinal race, bypassing the quarterfinals that sailors ranked sixth through tenth had to navigate. The top two from those quarterfinal rounds joined the third, fourth, and fifth-ranked sailors in the semis.
Blewett’s performances on Halloween day were far from scary. He kicked off the Final Series by winning his semifinal race, punching his ticket to the Grand Final. That showdown included the top two semifinalists alongside the first and second-ranked sailors from the Elimination series.
In the Grand Final format, the first athlete to collect two match points was declared the winner. Match points were awarded to the top two finishers from the Elimination series and to any race winner during the Final Series. Blewett entered with no match points and posted a fourth-place finish in the opening race, followed by a win in race two, and then a third-place result in race three. That final race ended the competition when Kfir Nov from Israel crossed the line first to claim his second match point and the gold medal.
With all remaining sailors tied on one match point, the final race result determined the podium order. Blewett’s third-place finish in that decisive race earned him the bronze medal. Leon Jankowski from Poland took the silver.
“It’s been a very long and complicated week,” said Blewett. “I had a few mishaps along the way, including breaking my boom handle in the second race and my front wing, but I’m happy with how it played out. Now on to the next one.”
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for sailing in the country. A leading international sailing nation, Sail Canada is proud of its world-class athletes, lifelong participants, and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches, and officials. With valued support from partners, Provincial Sailing Associations, and member clubs, schools, organizations, and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. From home pond to podium, Sail Canada sets standards and delivers programs for Canadians of all ages and abilities, spanning dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating, and accessible sailing.
Sailing has been part of the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, with the sole exception of 1904. The pursuit of Olympic success fuels Sail Canada’s focus, as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals in the sport.
