WINDSURFER Charlie Dixon struck gold for Great Britain at the Youth World Championships.

The Colchester Institute student, competing in his first ever international event, cleaned up in the male iQFOiL class, notching up eight wins from 11 races to seal the title by a staggering 26 points.

The 17-year-old said he’s been overwhelmed with the reaction of his friends, family and followers.

The former Plume Academy student said: “It didn’t really sink in at first but it definitely feels more real now.

“I’ve been bombarded by messages on social media, I’ve had a massive amount of support.”

Dixon, who sails out of Stone Sailing Club and Blackwater Sailing Club, enjoyed a welcome surprise on the fifth and final day of racing when his parents paid him a surprise visit.

They had caught a last-minute flight to the Netherlands to see their son in action and arrived at the event site just 20 minutes before he launched.

“It was a huge boost when my parents turned up,” he said.

“I had no idea they were coming, and to win it and for them to be waiting for me on shore made everything even more special.”

Simplicity was the key to victory explained Dixon, who has the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 firmly on his radar.

“My coach and I took it back to basics for this event,” he said.

“We had three goals: know the course, complete the course, and stay foiling. It was really simple but it worked.

“I had done all the training I possibly could have going into the event, and I just went out to enjoy it and see what I could do.

“Crossing the finish line of the last race and realising I was the world champion was an incredible feeling.”

Dixon heads to the iQFOiL International Games in Lake Garda, Italy, later this month before taking on the World Championships in Lake Silvaplana, Austria, shortly after.