Marie Barrué did what champions do: she made light, fickle winds look simple. The French sailor defended her ILCA 6 title from Oran 2022 at the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, holding steady through winds that sat stubbornly between 4 and 6 knots all week, to beat Slovenia's Alenka Valenčič into silver and Greece's Hermione Ghicas into bronze.
Her result anchored a strong week for France, which claimed two golds and a bronze to top the sailing standings in Taranto. Host nation Italy claimed five medals in total across the regatta, the biggest haul of any country present.
The conditions tested more than fitness. With winds rarely climbing above 6 knots, sailors across every fleet were pushed on tactical patience, light-wind boat handling and foiling efficiency.
Barrué's teammate Lorenzo Mayer added a second French gold, winning the ILCA 7 in scorching heat and technical conditions. Greece's Marios Stathas took silver, with Italy's Cesare Barabino claiming bronze.
Italy found its rhythm on the windsurfing courses. In the Men's iQFOiL, Leonardo Tomasini and Federico Allan Pilloni locked out the top two placings for the host nation, with France's Gaspard Carfantan taking bronze behind them.
Greece's Danai Pontifix won the Women's iQFOiL gold, with Italian windsurfers Medea Falcioni and Carola Colasanto filling out the rest of that podium.
Greece closed the regatta with three medals overall, rounding out a week in which three nations shared the spoils across the fleets.
Tomasz Chamera, World Sailing Vice President, praised the organisation and the standard of competition.
"I would like to express my sincere congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of the sailing competition at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto," Chamera said. "Special thanks to the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, CONI, the Taranto 2026 Organising Committee, the Italian Sailing Federation (FIV), the City of Taranto, the race officials, volunteers, technical teams, coaches and all supporting partners and sponsors."
He singled out the competitors themselves.
"Most importantly, I offer my appreciation to all the sailors and teams who competed with such commitment and sporting spirit," he said. "Their performances once again demonstrated the strength, diversity and quality of sailing across the Mediterranean region."
Chamera added that Taranto had proven itself as a stage for the sport. "Taranto provided an excellent platform to showcase sailing within a major multi-sport event and highlighted the important role our sport plays in connecting nations, developing athletes and inspiring the next generation."
