Natasa Lappa of the Limassol Nautical Club has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Women’s Windsurfing (iQFOiL).
Lappa secured her place following a redistribution of spots in the women’s iQFOiL event.
The Cyprus Olympic Committee promptly accepted the invitation from World Sailing, confirming her participation.
This will be Lappa’s second consecutive Olympic appearance, having previously finished 21st in the RSclass at Tokyo 2020.
The Cyprus Olympic team now comprises eight athletes with qualifications secured by Pavlos Kontides (ILCA7/Sailing), Denis Taradin (Kite/Sailing), Marilena Makri (ILCA6/Sailing), Natasa Lappa (iQFOiL), Andria Christoforou (Road Cycling), Marios Georgiou (Gymnastics), Vera Tulgolkova (Rhythmic Gymnastics), and 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.
