Valentin Bontus
{{Short description|Austrian kitesurfer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox sailor
| name = Valentin Bontus
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|2|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perchtoldsdorf, Austria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
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| classes = Kitesurfing
| coach = Luca Bursic
| club = Yacht Club Podersdorf
| worlds =
| nationals =
| olympics =
| medaltemplates-title = Competition record
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{AUT}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | Olympic Games }}
{{Medal|Gold|2024 Paris |Formula Kite}}
}}
Valentin Bontus (born 1 February 2001) is an Austrian kitesurfer. He competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the inaugural men's Formula Kite event, where he reached the finals and won the gold medal.
Biography
Bontus was born on 1 February 2001 in Perchtoldsdorf, Austria.{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/valentin-bontus_1566437 |work=Paris 2024 Olympics |title=BONTUS Valentin |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924010837/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/valentin-bontus_1566437 |url-status=live}} He was introduced to kitesurfing at age six, competing in freestyle and big air events.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sailing.org/2024/05/03/valentin-bontus-googling-to-be-a-podium-prospect/ |publisher=World Sailing |title=Valentin Bontus: Googling to be a Podium Prospect |date=3 May 2024 |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808214528/https://www.sailing.org/2024/05/03/valentin-bontus-googling-to-be-a-podium-prospect/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.krone.at/3382747 |newspaper=Kronen Zeitung |title=Bontus takes bronze at Formula Kite World Championship off Hyeres |date=19 May 2024 |via=archive.ph |access-date=1 September 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240808211618/https://www.krone.at/3382747 |url-status=bot: unknown}} He also played football as a youth, being a member of the club UNION Soccerclub Perchtoldsdorf through the U15 level.{{Cite web |url=https://www.oefb.at/Profile/Spieler/787475?Valentin-Bontus |website=oefb.at |title=Valentin Bontus |language=German |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924010838/https://www.oefb.at/Profile/Spieler/787475?Valentin-Bontus |url-status=live}} In 2020, he suffered two torn ligaments in his knee, which led to him switching to racing as the landings when doing tricks in freestyle and big air hurt his knees.
Bontus, a member of the Yacht Club Podersdorf, began the switch to racing in 2021: "I called the Austrian Federation in the summer of 2021 and said I was interested in aiming for the Olympics. At my first event I had no clue about anything to do with racing. I didn't even know how to press 'start' on my watch, and as for laylines, what were they! I actually Googled 'laylines' to find out what the coach was talking about."
Initially competing with the Levitaz foil package, Bontus switched to Chubanga and his performances improved. He began being coached by Luca Bursic in 2022 and in 2023, he placed fourth at the World Championships, thus qualifying for the inaugural men's Formula Kite event at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{Cite news |url=https://www.diepresse.com/14429881/kitesurfer-valentin-bontus-am-strand-ist-es-schon-einsam |newspaper=Die Presse |language=German |title=Kitesurfer Valentin Bontus: "Am Strand ist es schon einsam" |date=29 August 2023 |author=Ebner, Josef |trans-title=Kitesurfer Valentin Bontus: "It's already lonely on the beach" |access-date=1 September 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240808213452/https://www.diepresse.com/14429881/kitesurfer-valentin-bontus-am-strand-ist-es-schon-einsam |url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bvz.at/sport/sportmix/formula-kite-valentin-bontus-als-siebenter-ab-ins-olympia-revier-389354312 |website=BVZ.at |language=German |title=Valentin Bontus als Siebenter ab ins Olympia-Revier |url-access=subscription |trans-title=Valentin Bontus in seventh place off to the Olympic area |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924010838/https://www.bvz.at/sport/sportmix/formula-kite-valentin-bontus-als-siebenter-ab-ins-olympia-revier-389354312 |url-status=live}} At the European Championships in March 2024, he took fourth place. He won the bronze medal at the World Championships in May 2024, becoming the first medalist for Austria at the competition since 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bvz.at/sport/sportmix/formula-kite-valentin-bontus-lieferte-bronze-bei-der-weltmeisterschaft-422557049 |website=BVZ.at |language=German |title=Valentin Bontus lieferte: Bronze bei der Weltmeisterschaft |date=20 May 2024 |trans-title=Valentin Bontus delivered: Bronze at the World Championship |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808215241/https://www.bvz.at/sport/sportmix/formula-kite-valentin-bontus-lieferte-bronze-bei-der-weltmeisterschaft-422557049 |url-status=live}} At the Olympics, Bontus won the opening race, the first in Olympic history, and later won the finals with 3 consecutive victories to win the gold medal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.iksurfmag.com/kitesurfing-news/2024/08/paris-2024-bontus-and-aldridge-win-first-ever-formula-kite-olympic-races/ |website=IKsurfMag |title=Paris 2024: Bontus and Aldridge win First Ever Formula Kite Olympic Races |date=5 August 2024 |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808215241/https://www.iksurfmag.com/kitesurfing-news/2024/08/paris-2024-bontus-and-aldridge-win-first-ever-formula-kite-olympic-races/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/live-updates/3cc6936c-eff5-458a-bfba-662fb4607e45 |website=Olympics.com |date=8 August 2024 |title=Sailing: Valentin Bontus takes first men's kite final series race |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=12 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812035324/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/live-updates/3cc6936c-eff5-458a-bfba-662fb4607e45 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/live-updates/b9c03457-5af7-4695-97c4-00c1f2cfba62 |website=Olympics.com |date=9 August 2024 |title=Sailing: Valentin Bontus (AUT) wins men's kite gold |access-date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924010837/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/live-updates/b9c03457-5af7-4695-97c4-00c1f2cfba62 |url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{World Sailing}}
- {{Olympics.com|valentin-bontus}}
- {{Team Austria|valentin-bontus/3237}}
- {{Instagram}}
{{Austrian Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Men's Formula Kite}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bontus, Valentin}}
Category:People from Mödling District
Category:Austrian male sailors (sport)
Category:Olympic sailors for Austria
Category:Sailors at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Formula Kite
Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic gold medalists for Austria