Israeli surfer secures world championship victory

Israeli windsurfer Lee Korzits on Tuesday secured a first-place finish at the world championships in Brazil, leaving competitors in her wake en route to her third consecutive gold medal in the premier tournament outside of the Olympic Games.

Fellow Israeli Maayan Davidovich was also well placed for a podium spot, tied for second before the final races of the competition.

The 29-year-old Korzits was close to a medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games in August, but a bad final race pushed her down to sixth place.

Korzits, who in 2009 overcame a serious spinal injury that nearly killed her, won her first world championships in 2003, becoming the youngest person ever to take the gold at the prestigious competition.

Davidovich, an accomplished 24-year-old windsurfer, was leading the surfers behind Korzits. Any placement in the top seven during Wednesday’s final race will secure her a podium spot, and give the Israeli delegation two medals.