There was an array of emotions at the finish line for Jacqueline Kennedy who secured New Zealand’s first ever junior world title in Halifax, Canada.
Kennedy had her eyes on the prize as she powered over the finish line to secure the women’s junior kayak crown.
There was more nail-biting action at the International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships as Balint Kollek claimed victory by the thinnest margin of the day.
Ireland’s Sean Butterly claimed the men’s junior K1 1000m title, becoming world champion across two disciplines, while Slovakia’s Bianka Sidova earned a comfortable win.
Brazilian Tailon Nascminento and Poland's Kacper Sieradzan also claimed canoe titles on the second day of finals.
Kennedy came from behind to shock the frontrunners and capture the world title for Ireland in 1:57.35.
"I'm ecstatic,” said Kennedy.
“I just can't believe it. The competition is so insane and coming from New Zealand and racing against these massive countries like Italy, Czech and Hungary, it just makes it even more special.
"I've had so much support from home. My sponsors, local businesses, and the people back home have been such a big part of this journey. I've got so many people to talk to tonight; I don't think I'm going to sleep.
"I was so nervous. I've had such amazing idols, like Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher, and to be able to represent my country the way they did means so much to me.
"When I came across the line, I was just proud that I'd finished the race and given it everything. I looked across and saw everyone in my team cheering me on. I didn't even know what place I'd come, and then I found out I'd won. I was just so intensely grateful."
Italys Anastasia Insabella took silver just 0.08 seconds behind the victor, making it her second silver of the World Championships.
Hungary’s Lili Gazdag established a significant lead early on but couldn’t hang on, taking bronze in 1:57.87.
The race margins kept getting even smaller as just 0.03 seconds separated gold and silver in the men’s U23 K1 1000m.
Hungary’s Kollek emerged victorious with a time of 3:54.17, as Australia's Maguire Reid settled for silver in 3:54.20.
"I feel very good because it was a very hard race and a very hard week," said Kollek.
"We came from Hungary with a five-hour time difference, so we had to deal with the jet lag, and the wind was really tough. I had to fight against it.
"I didn't feel how close the race was because I was just focused on my own race. When I crossed the finish line, I saw the other guys were there, and I hoped I'd won, but I didn't know. I just knew they were right there.
"It was a very hard race, but I'm very happy."
Germany’s Hanno Wortmann captured bronze in 3:54.22.
After becoming the junior Canoe Marathon world champion in 2025, Butterly only had winning on his mind as he captured gold in the men’s junior K1 1000m final.
Butterly secured the narrow victory in 3:50.34, while Germany’s Timo Gessert took silver in 3:50.44, and Turkiye’s Rahmi Karahan rounded off the podium in 3:52.17.
"I'm very, very happy. It's still a bit of a shock, to be honest, but I'm delighted," said
"I felt really good going into the race. I had a very good warm-up, and I was ready for it. I've been thinking about this all year, ever since last year. I've been thinking about it every night before going to bed, so I couldn't have been more ready."
"I've got the 500 metres tomorrow and then the relay, so I'll celebrate a little tonight, but not too much. After that it's the European Championships, and then I'm off to Argentina for the Marathon World Championships."
Slovakia’s Sidova put significant distance between herself and her fellow competitors early on and maintained the gap in the women’s U23 K1 500m.
Sidova powered to victory in 1:59.62, while Hungary’s Sara Fojt captured silver in 2:02.34.
"I'm feeling very happy because I was able to do what I wanted to do. It feels great," said Sidova.
"To be honest, over the last few days I wasn't feeling very confident, but my mind was clear and I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Before the start everything was clear, I just wanted to deliver."
China’s Hankun Wang took bronze in 2:02.83.
The top three paddlers battled it out for the glory in the men’s junior C1 1000m with Brazil’s Nascimento coming out on top.
Nascimento claimed victory with a time of 4:33.39.
Halifax native Matthew Brown pushed hard in the final stretch to finish in 4:33.85.
Hungary's Huba Gyorko took bronze in 4:34.02.
Poland’s Sieradzan powered to victory in the men’s U23 C1 1000m, finishing in a time of 4:31.31.
Czechia's Adam Rudolf added a second medal to his tally as he took silver in 4:31.89, as Hungary’s David Urhin completed the podium in 4:35.27.
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