Poland and Switzerland enjoyed standout performances in Oklahoma City, United States as excitement builds for the 2026 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships.
The ICF Ranking Race provided a fantastic opportunity to test out the venue that will see paddlers fight for world titles in July and will host slalom competition at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Klaudia Zwolinska and Mateusz Polaczyk both delivered kayak golds for Poland, while Switzerland also experienced a double dose of success, with Alena Marx and Martin Dougood emerging victorious in the kayak cross.
Slovenia achieved gold through 18-year-old Ziga Lin Hocevar in the men’s canoe, as France’s Doriane Delassus paddled to victory in the women’s C1.
In the women’s K1, Zwolinska swept to the top of the podium in 87.78. The Polish paddler defeated France’s Emma Vuitton in 88.56 and Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar in 89.67.
Poland’s Polaczyk stormed to gold in the men’s K1 finishing in 77.33, placing ahead of Italy’s reigning Olympic champion Giovanni De Gennaro in 77.78, and Czechia’s Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Jiri Prskavec in 78.33.
France’s Delassus placed first in the women’s C1 in 97.66, despite incurring a four second penalty. Italy’s Marta Bertoncelli took silver in 98.27 while Czechia took bronze through Adriana Morenova in 100.33.
Slovenia’s Hocevar captured gold in the men’s C1, finishing in 82.36, while Poland’s Kacper Sztuba settled for silver in 84.96 and Slovakia’s Marko Mirgorodsky rounded off the podium in 85.64.
In the women’s kayak cross, Switerland’s Marx claimed gold, France’s Angele Hug took silver and Czechia’s Tereza Kneblova placed third.
Switzerland sealed a second gold through the men’s kayak cross as Dougood finished at the top of the podium. Spain’s David Llorente took silver and Czechia’s Martin Rudorfer placed third.
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