Mallorcan Konitzer, awarded alongside Torrado as 2025's team with most progression in 49er

The Spanish group has signed a historical season achieving the fifth place of the World'f champs.

The Royal Spanish Sailing Federation celebrates the international recognition given to Spanish sailors Conrad Konitzer, from the Club Nàutic s’Arenal, and Antonio Torrado, distinguished as the crew with most progression (Most Improved Team) of 2025 in the 49er class, a prize that puts into value this great competitive evolution during this cycle. 

Since they formed the team in 2023, Konitzer and Torrado have gone from being a new promising team to consolidating as first-level contendants in one of the msot demanding classes of the olympic scope. Their progression has been the result of a constant work process, a meticulous training and a solid communication abord, guided by their coach Ero Pons. 

Sports growth of the group was visible in 2024 with their debut in the gold team in the Trofeo Princesa Sofía, but it has been in 2025 when they have done the definiftive jump. Although it's not just results but also evolution, this year the fourth place in the Lanzarote International Regatta, the tenth place at the Sofía, the third place in Poland, the sixteenth place at the European and, especially, a well-deserved fifth place in the World champs, where they qualified for the Medal Series, stand out. 

At Cagliari, ain addition, they achieved a symbolic milestion: going from a three number sailing sail reserved for th 49er class to the teams who still haven't entered a gold group of a World Champs, to obtaining the number 5, belonging to its final position in the ten best of the world. 

Xisco Gil, director of olympic preparation of the RFEV, affirms that "it is a pride seeing how Conrad and Antonio are consolidated as the best in the world. What they've achieved this year is a perfect example of what happens when talent, work and a solic technical structure are combined. Their progression is not casual: it's the result of consistency, humbleness and the competitive ambition that characterizes the great teams. For the RFEV it is an honor seeing how our athletes grow until achieving the world's elite. This recognition is just the start of the path they have forwards”. 

The Galician technician Ero Pons, points out that the key of evolution of the team has been "the combination of high expectation with constant support, the work with the details and the capacity of learning from each session. What I value the most is how they have grown as a team, with discipline, strength and a great passion to improve”. 

The team's success is also held in its individual sports trajectory. Konitzer, Mallorcan, was 420 Europe's champion and world bronze before incorporating to 49er, while Torrado, from Torrevieja (Alicante), gain a wide multicategory experience that includes U23 European titles and some national championships. 

Both have worked in addition in paralell high-level projects, such as the Youth America's Cup alongside the Sail Team BCN, which has reinforced their coordination and trust. 

The 2025 season has been marked by the trainings alongside some of the most strong crews of the world, amongst them the olympic champions of the class, Diego Botín and Florian Trittel, Europe champions Wizner/Wizner, and the North American duo Mollerus/Bornarth.

After a year of consolidation and excellent results, Konitzer and Torrado look to the future with ambition: to keep gaining experience, to aspire to the world title and to fight to represent Spain in the Olympic Games.