Whether it was in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Italy, North Macedonia or Slovenia, Wildwater Canoeing races captivated spectators on the riverbanks in an exciting 2025 International Canoe Federation season. Let’s look back at some of the highlights from this year.
Czech siblings enjoy dream day
The ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships returned to Czechia for the first time in 19 years with Ceske Budejovice playing host. It was a big moment for Czech wildwater paddlers and one that a pair of siblings seized. Klara Vankova and Matej Vanek both struck gold on the same day to deliver joy to their family. Vankova was the first to top the podium with gold in the women’s kayak single before Vanek retained the men’s canoe single crown. There was also home delight for Kristina Novosadova and Marie Nemcova in the women’s canoe double and in the team events, while Czechia reigned supreme in Solkan, Slovenia, topping the sprint and classic standings at the Junior and U23 Wildwater Canoeing World Championships.
Urankar triumphs in Slovenian showdown
One of the most much anticipated races of the World Championships was the men’s K1 as Slovenians Anze Urankar and Nejc Znidarcic went head-to-head. Znidarcic is a six-time winner of the event, winning three in a row from 2019 to 2022 but Urankar currently holds the upperhand in this duel. After triumphing in 2017, 2023 and 2024, Urankar emerged victorious again for a fourth world crown. Urankar won in 41.92 as Znidarcic had to settle for second in 42.59 and Czechia’s Vojtech Matejicek claimed bronze in 42.68.
Fontaine leads French charge
It’s also been a great year in Wildwater Canoeing for France, headlined by Laura Fontaine’s world title. It was a third successive women’s C1 gold for Fontaine as she overcame Czechia’s Anna Retkova and Slovakia’s Katarina Kopunova to clinch top spot in Ceske Budejovice. Following Fontaine’s triumph, France picked up another gold when Corentin Combe and Clement Monjanel combined to secure the men’s C2 title. The French team also took the Wildwater Canoeing World Cups by storm.
Sauteur produces five-star showing
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Skopje, North Macedonia were the hosts of this year’s Wildwater Canoeing World Cups. France’s Nicolas Sauteur enjoyed plenty of success across the events, including five gold medals in Banja Luka – the venue for next year’s World Championships. Among those titles included the men’s C2 classic, C1 sprint, C2 sprint and C1 classic mass start as well as a silver in the C1 classic. Sauteur also starred in Skopje, capturing back-to-back men’s C1 crowns.
Panato family joy in Mezzana
There was delight for the Panato family in June when Mezzana staged the European Canoe Association Wildwater Canoeing European Championships. Cecilia Panato was responsible for all of Italy’s four golds in Mezzana. She won the women’s C1 titles in both sprint and classic and teamed up with her sister Alice Panato to triumph in the women’s C2 in both categories again. It was a memorable competition for the Italian family as Cecilia and Alice are the daughters of legendary Vladi Panato who was the organiser of the European Championships.
