Malta’s 14-Year-Old Sailor Finishes Second At Three-Day World Championship
He may just be 14 years old, but Richard Schultheis impressed at the Optimist World Championship this week while flying the white and red, finishing in second place.
The championship was held in English Harbour, Antigua and attracted 255 sailors aged 11 to 15 years from 65 nations.
Schultheis led in first place for the first two days of the event, but unfortunately fell to second on the last day – losing to Italy’s Marco Gradoni.
“Today was the final day so I just tried to keep my position and stay on the podium,” Schultheis commented when speaking to Scuttlebutt Sailing. “I did not push too much and I sailed safe.”
It is also believed that this year is likely to be Schultheis’ last time sailing Optimists, as he hopes to venture into faster WASZP foiling.
“I have sailed in the Optimists for several years and now I would like to move on.”
Also representing Team Malta was Schultheis’s teammate Antonio Gasperini and coach Joseph Schultheis.
Congratulations to Schultheis and Team Malta for an impressive performance at the World Championship!
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