Bernardo Pereira retains U23 world title in ocean racing
Bernardo Pereira has become the U23 world champion in ocean racing for the second time, winning the individual surfski (SS1) event at the World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain. The athlete from Clube Naval da Calheta also finished sixth in the absolute category. The Madeiran paddler successfully defended the title he won in 2025 in Durban, South Africa, while competing for the national team. In this year's race, he beat Frenchman Marin Lanée and South African Levi Mayes in the U23 standings. This victory extends an outstanding season for Pereira, who in August became the absolute and U23 European champion in SS1 in Brest, France. At last year's Durban World Championships, in addition to the U23 gold, the Portuguese athlete also won a bronze medal in the absolute ranking. Portugal's participation on the first day also included Martim Rodrigues, who finished ninth among the juniors, and Mateus Ornelas, who placed 13th in the senior event. In the women's events, Constança Frazão finished fifth in the junior category and Sara Sotero was seventh in the senior class.
