Two more Paracanoe gold medals ended a fantastic week for Great Britain in Milan, Italy, while Georgia’s Serhii Yemelianov returned to the top of the world after his three-year hiatus from competition.
The final day of the 2025 International Canoe Federation Paracanoe World Championships saw David Phillipson and Hope Gordon increase Great Britain’s gold-medal tally to four as they topped the medals table.
Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Anastasia Miasnikova also triumphed, while Yemelianov marked his return to the World Championships stage with a stunning performance.
Henshaw was seeking her second gold of the World Championships, but it was her teammate Gordon who came out on top in the women’s VL3.
Gordon was too good as she surged ahead and secured a dominant win, beating Paralympic and world champion Henshaw by more than two and a half seconds.
She won in 55.77 as Henshaw sealed silver in 58.11 and China’s Yuqingyan Cai claimed bronze in 58.67.
“I felt a bit hectic in the tent this morning, warming up, and everything was just flooding,” said Gordon.
“But as soon as we got on the water, I actually felt quite calm.
“Both my parents turned 60 this year. A big happy birthday for them. A big year for the family, so I am chuffed to hopefully give them the best birthday present.”
The men’s KL2 final was tightly contested with Great Britain’s Phillipson, Christian Volpi of Italy and Uzbekistan’s Azizbek Abdulkhabibov battling hard to the finish line.
It was Phillipson who got there first, winning by 0.17 as he crossed in 44.04, while there was just 0.01 between Volpi and Abdulkhabibov.
Volpi got the silver in 44.21 as Abdulkhabibov bagged bronze in 44.22.
“I haven't been training full-time,” said Phillipson.
“Now I've put my weight on, but my technique and mental strength have just pulled me through. And it was tight that one.
“But yeah, buzzing.”
Miasnikova captured her first world title with an impressive showing to clinch women’s VL2 gold.
With reigning Paralympic champion and multiple world gold medallist Emma Wiggs of Great Britain not in the field due to injury, it was a chance for others to seize their opportunity.
Miasnikova took that chance as she powered across the finish line in 1:02.62, while Canada’s Brianna Hennessy claimed silver in 1:04.12 and Great Britain’s Jeannette Chippington won bronze in 1:04.47.
“I have nothing to say, but just happy,” said Miasnikova.
“We have had this terrible weather before, but it does not affect me.
“I am pleased to have had a very good competition.”
Yemelianov claimed his fifth world title and first in four years with a powerful performance in the men’s KL3.
It was his first world crown under a Georgian flag after switching allegiances from Ukraine.
Yemelianov, who last competed at the World Championships in 2021 and only returned to competition at the start of this year, claimed gold in 40.31.
There was a battle for the other two medals as Brazil’s Miqueias Elias Rodrigues earned silver in 41.29 and Australia’s Dylan Littlehales secured bronze in 41.33.
“The last three years have been hard to change my National Federation, but I came prepared to show my results here,” said Yemelianov.
“Thanks to my family and coaches, and Georgia, for all the support.
“I pushed in 2024, but three years to go until the next Paralympic Games and I will be ready.”
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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