Invincible Stragiotti hails perfect end to Youth Worlds chapter

The 18-year-old from Zurich won male Formula Kite gold in some style in Vilamoura, winning all nine races which took place across the week.

It put the seal on an excellent year for Stragiotti, who has also won European Championship silver and finished fifth at the senior World Championships in 2025.

“I am super happy,” he said. “There is no better way to finish my last U19 regatta. It feels much better than last year, first feels way better than second.

“I stuck to my plan, sailed clean without any touches or tangles and stayed calm on the water.

“Next year, the goal is to prep for qualification for the LA Olympics. Now it is a full fight with the elite.”

He is already mixing with the best on a regular basis, with Stragiotti part of a training group containing the Maeder brothers, Max and Karl, in Switzerland.

Max, who represents his birthplace Singapore internationally, won bronze at Paris 2024 and Stragiotti is hoping to follow in his footsteps.

“At the youth events, it was always a battle with Max and Riccardo (Pianosi), it is always nice to compete with them,” he said.

“Max speaks Swiss-German, his brother rides for Switzerland and he rides for Singapore – which is lucky for me, so I have chances! His brother is catching up as well, he is super fast.

“I turned 18 this year so this is my last Youth Worlds. My goal going forwards is a medal at LA 2028, to end up on the podium.”

Stragiotti got into kiting aged eight, inspired by his father, while light winds in Zurich led him to trying foiling two years later.

Formula Kite’s introduction into the Olympic programme saw him focus his efforts into that class and he is now a two-time Youth Sailing World Championship medallist, having claimed silver in 2024.

He is balancing his sporting ambitions with a commercial apprenticeship at the UNITED School of Sports, giving him an insight into the world of work.

“I can combine it super easily with the sport, which is great,” he said.

“It is a four-year apprenticeship, the first two years is school, the second two years you work in a company practicing a job.

“Now I am in the first year at the company, my neighbour’s gym. I work in the back office, sadly not in the gym itself, but after work I can go straight into the gym.

“I get free protein shakes every day, so I can’t complain!”

 

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Stragiotti grew up in a sport-loving household and loves para-gliding with his sister and father when not competing himself.

His twin brother – the elder of the two by just a minute – plays Swiss Unihockey, also known as ‘floorball’, and flew down to support his brother and join their parents, who drove to the Algarve in their campervan, for a family trip after this Championships.

“My environment really helps me,” he said. “My dad helps a lot with the structure and helped out a lot at the beginning.

“Now it is more on me, I am 18, so I can drive the rib around by myself and I have a bit more independence.

“I like to stay super clear about my intentions for each event. I have strong routines, goals I want to achieve, and work on that.

“I also use a lot of breathing techniques, which helps a lot.”

Such techniques come in handy in a sport which requires patience – Formula Kite competitors spent the opening two days in Vilamoura on the shore as conditions prevented them racing.

Stragiotti listens to music or plays Clash Royale, an online game in the mould of chess, to stay relaxed in such situations and tries his best to cut out social media when trying to zone in.

The camaraderie between the athletes also comes to the fore in those circumstances, as the Swiss prospect explained.

“Everyone is super nice,” he said. “On the beach, we are best buddies, it is really nice, they all do surfing as well and you can have good fun together.

“On the water, it is a dogfight, everyone is full on, screaming. But once we are back on the beach, we drink something together and have a good time.

“The freedom on the water and the feeling of the speed are my favourite things about this sport. You can go so fast with mother nature, the wind, the water, you just can go full speed with the foil and you are flying over the water. It is a super nice feeling.”