Paddle Europe

Europe’s best sprint and paracanoe athletes are ready for another major international test as the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup gets underway in Montreal, Canada.

Just a few weeks after the 2026 Paddle Europe Sprint, Paracanoe and Masters Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, many of Europe’s medallists and champions return to the water to face the world’s strongest athletes.

From Martin Fuksa, Fernando Pimenta and Liudmyla Luzan to some of Europe’s leading paracanoe stars, Montreal will be an important benchmark ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Poznań and another key step on the road to LA28.

2026 Paddle Europe Masters Slalom Championships starts in 2 days.

First atheletes already enjoying the tranining sessions at the beautiful Mur Valley today.

Europe’s Masters slalom paddlers are ready for Austria!

The 2026 Paddle Europe Masters Slalom Championships will take place on 10–11 July in St. Ruprecht ob Murau, Austria, bringing together more than 150 Masters athletes from 15 nations.

The event will celebrate canoe slalom across generations on a natural whitewater course in the beautiful Mur Valley.

Among the highlights, Olympic champion Elena Kaliská will be on the start list, alongside world champions, Olympic participants and former national team athletes. The Championships will also feature remarkable stories, including 84-year-old Wolfgang Ernst, competing in both C1 and K1, and what is expected to be the first Women’s C2 event at a Masters Championship.

Two days of racing, friendship and passion for canoe slalom are coming to Austria.

1 MONTH TO GO!

In one month, the 2026 Paddle Europe Junior & U23 Slalom Championships will bring Europe’s top young canoe slalom athletes to Épinal, France.

From 5 to 9 August, the next generation will take on the technical whitewater course at Base Natur’O, chasing European titles in Junior and Under 23 categories.

After a strong 2025 edition, with countries such as Czechia, France, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Great Britain and Poland all showing their strength, a new chapter begins in Épinal.

Europe’s future slalom stars are almost ready.

There is far more that unites our sport than what separates it. Last week in Halifax, Portugal claimed the world title using a Spanish boat — a perfect example of the spirit of canoeing.

Federação Portuguesa de Canoagem
Real Federación Española de Piragüismo

🫶🏼Mucho más lo que nos une que lo que nos separa. Sorte 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 🇪🇸🇵🇹

Hungary wins in Halifax!

European nations delivered a strong performance at the 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, winning 100 medals, including 29 golds.

The standout team was Hungary, which topped the medal table with an impressive 27 medals: 11 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze, showing great depth across kayak, canoe, individual and crew events.

Poland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Spain also produced strong results, confirming the strength of the next generation of European canoe sprint athletes.

After Halifax, all eyes now turn to Hungary, where the 2026 Paddle Europe Junior and Under 23 Sprint Championships will take place in just two weeks’ time.

European titles are next!

Poland 2nd best European Country in the Medal table.

Poland was one of the standout European nations at the 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, finishing as the second-best European country in the medal table with a total of 7 medals.

The Polish team collected 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals, showing impressive depth across different categories and boat classes.

🥇 Kacper SIERADZAN won gold in the C1 Under 23 Men 1000m
🥇 Alex BORUCKI claimed victory in the K1 Under 23 Men 500m
🥇 Weronika MARCZEWSKA / Martyna JASKOLSKA added another gold in the K2 Under 23 Women 500m

Poland also reached the podium in crew boats and mixed events, confirming the strength of a new generation of athletes ready to compete at the highest international level.

A special mention goes to Alex BORUCKI and Weronika MARCZEWSKA, both finishing the Championships with two medals each.

A fantastic campaign for Poland and a strong statement for the future of European canoe sprint

Slovakia stands out in Halifax!

With the ICF Sprint Junior & U23 World Championships almost complete in Halifax, Canada, another European nation has delivered a fantastic performance on the world stage.

Slovakia and Slovenská kanoistika have already claimed three gold medals, getting top 4 in the provisional medal table while the 5000m relay events are still underway.

🥇 K1 U23 Women 500m – Bianka Sidova
🥇 K4 U23 Women 500m – Reka Bugar / Sofia Bergendi / Hana Gavorova / Bianka Sidova
🥇 K1 Junior Men 200m – Alex Gavlider

A brilliant championship for Slovakia and another strong statement from European canoe sprint in Halifax.

Czechia shines in Krakow!

The 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships confirmed Europe’s strength on the world stage, with European nations winning 68 of the 72 medals and claiming all 24 world titles.

But the biggest highlight came from Czechia, who dominated the medal table with an outstanding 24 medals — 11 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze.

The Czech team was particularly impressive in the junior women’s events, sweeping the podium in Women’s Kayak Junior and again in the Women’s Kayak Cross Junior final. Athletes such as Barbora Ondracková, Valentyna Kocírova, Lucie Vaculová and Tereza Kneblová were among the stars of the Championships, collecting multiple medals across slalom, team events and kayak cross.

With France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Great Britain and Slovenia also on the podium, Krakow 2026 once again showed the depth and quality of European canoe slalom.

Valentyna Kocírova was one of the most complete athletes of Krakow 2026, winning six medals across slalom, team events and kayak cross.

Barbora Ondracková was the golden star of the Championships, claiming four world titles, including both the Women’s Canoe Junior and Women’s Kayak Junior events.