MOTOSURF | UIM ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY – ΜΟΝΑCΟ 2026
Mike Michaelides: The Cypriot World Champion Was Officially Honored in the Heart of Monaco
Monaco, March 7, 2026
In an atmosphere of grandeur and recognition, Mike Michaelides once again found himself at the center of the international motorsport scene. The Cypriot MotoSurf World Champion 2025 attended the official annual UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique) Awards Ceremony held in Monaco on March 7, 2026, where he received his trophy among the world’s top athletes in aquatic motorsport.
The Big UIM Night in Monaco
This year’s ceremony, which hosted over 200 athletes, officials and race organizers, honored more than 70 athletes who distinguished themselves during the 2025 season in categories such as offshore powerboat racing, circuit racing, XCAT, MotoSurf, Aquabike and the electric E1 racing series. The event is annually the greatest moment of recognition in world aquatic motorsport.
UIM President Dr. Raffaele Chiulli delivered a meaningful address, noting that “in the world of high speed, champions are not made in a single race — they are forged through years of discipline, resilience and courage.”
Mike Among the Greats
Michaelides, who had been crowned MotoSurf World Champion 2025 in November 2025 in Macao — making history as the first Cypriot to claim that title — officially received his trophy in Monaco, in an evening that brought great honor to the Cypriot presence on the international stage.
His victory in Macao, in the Stock R – Merlin Plus category, had sealed a season of dominance: from claiming pole position with the fastest time across all categories, to a flawless performance in the final with a time of 8:44.440 and a triple honorary distinction from the organization.
An Evening of Historic Moments
The Monaco ceremony was marked by particularly symbolic moments. Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg was named “Driver of the Year” after making history as the first female UIM F2 world champion, while 16-year-old Estonian Paul Richard Laur was awarded “Junior Driver of the Year.” American Shaun Torrente received his fourth title in UIM F1H2O.
The evening took place on the eve of International Women’s Day, lending it special symbolic significance in the context of equality and inclusion promoted by the UIM.
Cyprus on the Map of World Motorsport
Michaelides’s presence at the Monaco ceremony confirms that Cyprus now holds a permanent place on the world map of aquatic motorsport. The young champion, competing with the Seawolf Watersports / FORCE 8 SPORTS team with the support of Mantovani Plotin Travel, has turned an island dream into a global reality.
The story of Mike Michealides continues — and Monaco simply sealed what the world now knows: Cyprus has a true world champion.
