Isaura Maenhaut / Anouk Geurts

Born in Bruges on 24 December 1998, Isaura Maenhaut helms Belgium's leading 49erFX. She started sailing at seven in Heusden, sails for RBSC Duinbergen, and won youth world bronze medals in both the Laser Radial (2015) and the Nacra 15 (2016).

She and Anouk Geurts were first placed on separate boats in the Belgian federation's Nacra 17 talent project. When injuries ended it, the two friends teamed up in the 49erFX, with Maenhaut helming and calling tactics. They were Belgian Sailing Team of the Year in 2019 and made their Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, finishing 14th.

Fourth at the 2023 Worlds in The Hague earned Belgium its Paris 2024 place, and in May 2024 they became European Champions in La Grande Motte. They finished 14th in Marseille. Since then they have won the 2025 Semaine Olympique Française in Hyères, taken European bronze in 2025, and gone into the final day of the 2026 Worlds in Quiberon in medal position before finishing 8th.

From Ghent and born on 3 April 2000, Anouk Geurts crews for helm Isaura Maenhaut. Before the skiff she was Belgian and European Laser 4.7 champion in 2016.

The duo have packed a lot into their partnership: an Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Olympic qualification for Paris 2024 via fourth at the 2023 Worlds, and the 2024 European Championship title in La Grande Motte.

In the new cycle they won Hyères in 2025, took European bronze in Thessaloniki, and in 2026 came within one race of a world championship medal in Quiberon. Their first regatta on the LA 2028 Olympic waters, at San Pedro in August 2026, gave them a 9th place to build on.