Although Phoenix was still eligible to compete in the U19 category at the time, she received special permission to compete against the adults in the “Open Class.” And she didn’t just show up to participate—she was a serious title contender.

The final turned into one of the most thrilling dramas in slalom history. Water skiing is a sport heavily dependent on external conditions, and on finals day, difficult weather challenged the athletes. Phoenix fell at the first buoy on the 13-meter rope—a length she typically masters with ease. But in this high-caliber field, every inch counts.

The result was agonizingly close: Bianca Schall secured gold by just a single buoy, and Jana Cathrin Meier took silver by only half a buoy ahead of Phoenix. Despite the fall, Phoenix secured the Bronze Medal at the World Championships. A result that proves: the world title is well within Phoenix’s reach.

However, the week in Poland was historic for another, more somber reason. Originally, the 2023 Junior European Championships were scheduled for October 13th in Tel Aviv. Due to the tragic events in Israel starting on October 7th, the event was canceled at short notice.

In a massive organizational effort, three major events were combined in Poland in 2024: the World Championships and the Junior European Championships for both 2023 and 2024.

Phoenix demonstrated incredible mental toughness throughout this marathon of competitions. While she secured bronze among the adults, she dominated her own age group at will. She won both outstanding Junior European Championships in Slalom, crowning herself European Champion for the third time in a row.

With a World Championship podium finish and two European titles under her belt, Phoenix left Poland as the most successful rising star of the tournament.