Clarke claims fourth straight kayak cross title as Hug wins French duel in Sydney

ICFmedia

4 October 2025

Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke captured his fourth successive men’s kayak cross crown as he reasserted his dominance in the new Olympic event at the 2025 International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships in Sydney, Australia.

There was also another gold medal for France as Angele Hug increased her country’s title tally to five with success in the women’s kayak cross, beating compatriot Camille Prigent in the final.

It was a record-extending victory for Clarke as he made it four world gold medals on the trot in the event that made a sensational debut at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

With five golds and one silver, Clarke moves level with Jon Lugbill of the United States as the joint most successful male paddler in individual events in World Championships history.

Click here for live startlists and results from Sydney

Clarke was frustrated to miss out on kayak cross gold at last year’s Olympic Games and struggled to find his best on the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup circuit in 2025.

But when it comes to the World Championships, Clarke comes alive in a kayak cross boat and is hard to stop when he gets motoring.

After crashing down from the start ramp in first position, Clarke forged ahead from France’s Mathurin Madore, Czechia Matyas Novak and Belgium’s Maxime Aubertin.

There was no catching Clarke as he powered clear and even had time to celebrate his victory before crossing the line.

Madore was the next to finish in second, delivering another medal for France, while Novak bagged bronze.

Joseph Clarke Sydney 2005 Great Britain kayak cross podium

The victory follows Clarke’s triumphs in 2021, 2022 and 2023. It is also his fifth individual gold medal, adding to his silver medal in the kayak cross individual in Sydney to equal Lugbill’s record in the men’s individual all-time list.

“It's incredible,” said Clarke, who missed the start of the season following the birth of his second child.

“Obviously, (winning gold) was the aim when I came out here today, but there's a lot of rounds and a lot of good guys to beat to get there.

“So just building round by round, I think I had actually got more energy as the competition went through.

“I started rising to the occasion again and being able to perform under the big pressure at the big time. So that's good and I love the kayak cross.”

Hug overcame Prigent in a French one-two as their nation topped the medal standings.

A silver medallist on home waters at the Olympic Games last year, Hug went one better in Sydney with a superb performance to seal her first individual world title.

Angele Hug kayak cross Sydney 2025 France celebrate

Immediately leading after the start ramp, Hug faced a grapple with Spain’s Maialen Chourraut at the first upstream gate.

Hug used all her strength to get away from Chourraut before storming clear of the field to clinch victory.

She was followed down the course by Prigent who won her second kayak cross silver after achieving the same colour in London two years ago.

“It’s super cool to be with Camille, two French girls on the podium,” said Hug.

“I think it's never been seen before at the World Championships.

“We were both disappointed with our slalom, but we had it in us, and we brought it out today.

“Before the race, I stayed focused, but I was still thinking about Camille.

“ And honestly, at the finish line – if you watch the race – I don’t even celebrate at first. I’m looking to see where Camille is on the results board.

“When I saw that we were first and second, I thought, ‘This can't be real!’ Even now, I still can't believe it.”

Poland’s Klaudia Zwolinska, who clinched gold in the canoe and kayak in Sydney, wrapped up a dream week with a bronze as Chourraut missed out on a place on the podium.

Results

Men’s Kayak Cross