Enzo Balanger, first Frenchman to be crowned Moth World Champion!

Enzo Balanger, athlete from the Akademy by K-Challenge, wins his first Moth World Championship title at the age of 24. A first for him, but also for France.

Considered the man to beat in this competition, which brought together 137 participants from 25 countries, Enzo, born in Les Abymes (Guadeloupe), had a flawless week and finished 12 points ahead of Australia's Tom Slingsby, who made an impressive comeback in the final days of the race. New Zealander Jacob Pye completed the podium.

Beyond these two athletes, Enzo left behind many big names in our sport, including multiple Olympic medalists, former World Champions in all categories such as the 2024 Moth title holder Mattias Coutts, as well as well-known sailors from the America's Cup and the SailGP circuit: Diego Botin and the trio of British Olympic gold medalists Dylan Fletcher, Giles Scott, and Paul Goodison, etc.

CONGRATULATIONS Enzo!

Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge:
"Enzo Balanger's victory in the Moth World Championship is an unprecedented achievement, as no Frenchman had ever won in this category, which is dominated by Anglo-Saxons. The biggest names in Olympic sailing and the America's Cup have coveted this major individual title in foiling sailing.
Enzo had already shown a glimpse of his talent with his Youth America's Cup Orient Express-L'Oréal Racing Team in Barcelona in 2024, but they missed out on qualifying for the final stages after racing three out of eight regattas due to technical problems.
We decided to bring him into the Akademy K-Challenge, as part of the France SailGP Team, and to provide him with financial support for his Moth season with our partners ALL-Accor, L'Oréal Group, and Leyton.
This result is the crowning glory of his talent, personality, and extraordinary perseverance, and confirms the validity of the Akademy K-Challenge, which aims to bring young people and women to their highest level. "

A long-term victory, the result of passion and hard work

Enzo and the Moth is a beautiful story that began in 2021 in Quiberon, where he jumped straight into the deep end by participating in the World Championship and climbing into the Top 10, finishing in 9th place.

Since then, Enzo has returned regularly and generally finished near the top of the rankings: two French Championship titles (2023-2024), three impressive victories at Foiling Week (2023, 2024, and 2025), and two sixth-place finishes at the World Championships in England (2023) and New Zealand (2024), culminating in the World Championship title in Malcesine on July 13, 2025.

With five race wins out of ten, Enzo Balanger showed remarkable consistency throughout the week, both during the qualifying rounds, which he dominated, and during the Finals, despite atypical weather conditions on Lake Garda.

Enzo: "The days were long and complex. But it was interesting. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the water, we had to manage our fatigue. There was a stormy situation. Unlike Foiling Week and training, the north wind was the most prevalent this week. I've never experienced that before. It wasn't the usual Lake Garda! So we had to adapt.
I had to find the right balance between choosing the foils, waiting, and warming up! The conditions were unusual and complicated. But in the end, we got the win! “

What is the secret behind this performance?

Enzo: ”This victory is rooted in both a deep desire to succeed and the groundwork laid by my partners and the momentum of the Akademy K-Challenge, which has been supporting me since the Youth America's Cup selections. Thanks to this support, for which I am very grateful, I was able to focus fully on my goal.
With my coach, Aymeric Arthaud, a Moth expert, I was able to put together a meticulous preparation program well in advance of the competition and on a good boat.
I have been training in Malcesine, on the World Championship course, since last April with a strong group. With Dylan Fletcher, Diego Botin, and Paul Goodison, I have been able to make a lot of progress. It's been a huge bonus!
This preparation and my victories at the start of the season gave me confidence and allowed me to approach the World Championships with a strong mindset. This combination helped me to be consistent and perform well!“

Does this victory have a special meaning?

Enzo: ” All my other victories prepared me for this one. So yes, it feels different! This series has thrilled me since I was a child. Becoming Moth World Champion is the fulfillment of my childhood dream. I'm really moved.
And then there was that incredible gesture from Paul Goodison, three-time Moth World Champion, who took a gold butterfly sticker* from his own sail to give to me! It was powerful, very powerful. An immense emotion. It was very symbolic of the spirit that reigns in this class: respect and mutual support.“

And now?

Enzo: ”I'm going to stay in Garde for a few days and savor this moment with my loved ones."

A victory celebrated internationally:

Second in the 2025 Moth World Championship, Australian Tom Slingsby, five-time World Champion, Olympic medalist in laser and two-time World Champion in Moth, winner of the America's Cup:
"I gave it everything I had. Enzo was on another level this week, my congratulations to him. The level of the young people in this category is incredible. The future of the Moth is in good hands."

Top 5 rankings
Enzo Balanger (FRA) - 15 points
Tom Slingsby (AUS) - 27 points
Jacob Pye (NZL) - 29 points
Ryan Littlechild (AUS) - 31 points
Richard Schultheis (GER) - 35 points
Full rankings HERE

World champions for the past 10 years
2024: Mattias Coutts (NZL)
2022: Dylan Fletcher-Scott (GBR)
2021 / 2019: Tom Slingsby (AUS)
2018 / 2017 / 2016: Paul Goodison (GBR)
2015: Peter Burling (NZL)
2020: no world championship due to Covid-19
2023: Not enough races to validate the World Championship

*The butterfly is the symbol of the Moth Class. World Champions in this class display a gold butterfly on their sails as a distinctive mark.