Kiteboarding world-topping athletes shone bright at the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games “Heraklion 2023”, which was a first-ever “big sporting celebration” for them. 

The French team members were the main protagonists on Ammoudara Beach, celebrating a double victory both in men and women and sending a message of superiority ahead of 2024. The Olympic Games that will be held in their homeland, in Paris, will coincide with the Olympic debut of Kiteboarding and all French athletes dream of being there and experiencing moments of glory. 

Under the guidance of coaching duo Ariane Imbert and Bertrand Du Mortier, “tricolore” swept the medals at the Mediterranean Beach Games, with Maxime Nocher and Axel Mazella dominating in men, while Poema Newland and Lauriane Nolot won the two top positions in women. 

“I am so happy to win the first-ever Mediterranean Beach Games that included our sport! I had a lot of fun in the water, there were some nice races and it was an amazing experience”, emphasized Maxime Nocher, who dominated clearly the men’s category with five wins in ten races. 

His compatriot Axel Mazella was next on the podium. The winner of this year’s pre-Olympic Test Event confessed that the experience of participating in the Mediterranean Beach Games was special: “It is a big sporting celebration, which we had never experienced before! This event gave us the opportunity to see different sports, to applaud our teammates from other sports and to feel part of the French team in a different way. The level of competition was also very high in our sport, as four “top 10″ athletes of the world ranking were present here. Our races were like those of a Kiteboarding World Championships”. 

Mazella concluded by referring to his own Olympic dream: “Kiteboarding will be on the Olympic program for the first time and in my home country, too, which makes it even more special. It is every athlete’s dream to be at the Olympic Games, it is a life goal for me and I will train hard to be able to achieve it”. 

Poema Newland will leave Heraklion with the gold medal in women’s category, but also a special experience as a souvenir: 

“The feeling of participating in such an event is wonderful. Seeing other athletes outside the Kiteboarding world, sharing experiences, feeling part of a big team… I’m doubly happy because I was able to win the gold medal. On the last day of the races I managed to make “clean” races and avoid the mistakes of the premiere. Of course the Olympics are on my mind, but I don’t want to talk too much about next goals. I prefer to do what I have to do step by step, so that I can get better.” 

Lauriane Nolot, world title holder and winner of this year’s pre-Olympic Test Event, will also say goodbye to Crete with a smile, even though the 2nd place she won in Ammoudara was not satisfactory enough for her: 

“The Mediterranean Beach Games were a beautiful experience. I came here quite chilled, after having won the World Championships a few weeks ago, so I took the opportunity to test some new equipment at these races. In the last day’s races it didn’t work as I would have liked and I think it’s the first event this year that I didn’t win. I expect to do better in the Olympic Games, I just want the gold medal in Paris! Just kidding, but my goal is to always look at the top.”