In the third of our big interviews with the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup Series, we spoke with women’s overall kayak cross champion Ricarda Funk of Germany.
There have been many times when kayak cross has left Ricarda Funk feeling puzzled and frustrated.
Amongst all the chaos that often ensues when boats collide and jostle for position Funk has struggled to assert herself.
With an Olympic gold medal and multiple world titles to her name, there is no doubting that Funk is an outstanding kayaker. She is one of the greats of her generation.
But when faced with other boats in her line of sight, the 33-year-old has often been gripped by nerves and found herself slipping into her shell due to the unpredictability of kayak cross.
“I have to say that I am super nervous with kayak cross,” said Funk.
“It’s unplanned so you just don’t know what is going to happen.
“You are not alone at the startline, you are faced with three other girls that are trying to influence your own run.
“You are not the only person that has the control which is definitely different for me.”
It has been a long and challenging journey for Funk ever since she first slipped into a kayak cross boat.
Kayak cross emerged on the international scene 10 years ago before making its Olympic debut in Paris last year, but it has taken Funk time to adapt.
“At the beginning, I knew I wanted to do it but I knew it was going to be a challenge for me,” said the German paddler.
“I never paddled in a plastic boat before, so kayak cross was the first time I was sitting in a different kind of boat to a slalom boat which was quite a change.
“You really need to get used to these massive boats.
“It was also difficult for me to integrate another event into my training schedule.
“I am used to focusing on only one event, I’m not one that does K1 and C1, so it was something new to train in two events.
“That takes so much more energy to keep the motivation and focus up to the same level and I am still adapting to this.”
If there is one word to describe Funk, it is determined. She is not one to shirk a challenge and has refused to give up on solving her kayak cross conundrum.
Despite her struggles in the new Olympic event, Funk continued to plug away before her persistence finally paid off.
“I was determined,” said Funk.
“I knew it was another chance to win a medal and an Olympic medal.
“It was clear that I wanted to do it but it was going to be a challenge.
“Sometimes, I was really confused. I didn’t know if I could make it work because it is such a different event.
“I wasn’t sure if I could be at the top level in kayak cross but with any event or sport it’s a process.
“I still believed in it.”
Funk says she has now “professionalised” kayak cross in her training with more sessions on the water and on the ramp, and a greater focus on video analysis to help boost her performance.
But her success in the International Canoe Federational Canoe Slalom World Cup Series in 2025 still came as a big surprise.
Before the last World Cup in Augsburg, Funk had not reached a kayak cross final this year, making the semi-finals in La Seu, quarter-finals in Pau, semi-finals in Prague and quarter-finals in Tacen.
But with double points available at the last leg of the series, Funk seized her opportunity on home waters to deliver her best at the climax of the season.
“It was crazy,” said Funk.
“I didn’t expect to win any medal, and I won a medal in the (kayak cross) time trial and a medal in the overall World Cup in the time trial.
“I couldn’t believe it when my coach told me it’s not just a medal, but an overall medal as well.
“I was like what? How can this be possible?
“Of course, I profited from double points in the final.
“It was the same kind of story in the kayak cross.
“I knew it was a gold medal which was super cool, but I didn’t know this would mean that it would be the overall World Cup as well.
“It was a huge surprise
“It was my first gold medal in kayak cross.
“Slalom is the event that I grew up with. My heart beats for slalom.
“This kayak cross gold medal and the overall World Cup shows me that I can do it.
“I was always thinking that kayak cross is not my best skill, and I wasn’t sure if I could do it as I am quite a light person, I’m small.
“But it is possible.”
What made Funk’s kayak cross gold in Augsburg even more satisfying was that it came just a couple of days after her disappointment in the kayak.
Funk was on course to defend her overall crown in K1 only for her title hopes to be dashed after agonisingly missing out on a place in the final.
“I was sad and frustrated after my slalom race as I knew I was in a good line for winning the overall World Cup,” said Funk.
“But while the double points were good for me in cross, they were probably not good for me in slalom.
“After slalom, I didn’t think about the overall World Cup in kayak cross.
“I just wanted to show that I was working hard, and I was not focusing on the matter, I was focusing on what’s happening right now in this moment.
“Probably this mental state made me win it in the end.”
Funk picked up a K1 teams silver at the ICF Slalom World Championships in Sydney but she was unable to add an individual medal to her collection.
Despite finishing fourth in the final, Funk said she was more than content with her 2025 season in K1 having been crowned European champion in May and won a World Cup gold in Pau a month later.
“I was consistent,” added Funk.
“It was not a perfect season, but it was a good season.
“I worked hard this winter which was quite a challenge after the Olympic Games to keep the focus and stay motivated.
“So I am proud of this season.
“I was going for a World Championships medal, but I can’t say it was a bad World Championships for me.
“I was still fourth, so I am fourth in the world.
“I am happy with this season overall.”
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