Natalia Lappa from the Limassol Nautical Club has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Women’s Windsurfing (iQFOiL) after a redistribution of spots. The Cyprus Olympic Committee promptly accepted the invitation from World Sailing, confirming her participation. This will be her second consecutive Olympic appearance, having previously finished 21st in the RS:X class at Tokyo 2020.
Cyprus Olympic Team Expands
The Cyprus Olympic team now comprises eight athletes in various sports. These include:
- Pavlos Kontides (ILCA7/Sailing)
- Denis Taradin (Kite/Sailing)
- Marilena Makri (ILCA6/Sailing)
- Natalia Lappa (iQFOiL)
- Andria Christoforou (Road Cycling)
- Marios Georgiou (Gymnastics)
- Vera Tulgolkova (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
- Alexandros Tofalides (Fencing)
The redistribution of places followed the withdrawal of a Swiss sailor who had already secured an Olympic qualification in the women’s iQFOiL. World Sailing then turned to the ‘Last Chance Regatta’ held in France last April, where Lappa finished 10th and was the first reserve for qualification.
The Limassol Nautical Club athlete is ranked 44th in the World Sailing Olympic rankings, with all higher-ranked sailors already having secured their qualification spots in the women’s iQFOiL. As such, none of them could claim the additional spot, as each country is entitled to be represented by only one athlete per category.
Therefore, the vacant spot went to the Cypriot sailor, securing her participation in the women’s iQFOiL event at the Olympic Games, where 24 athletes from an equal number of countries will compete.
