Multiple world champions and Olympic medallists are among the final fields for what is set to be a high-class 2018 ICF Wildwater World Championships in Muotathal, Switzerland, this weekend.

All of the 2017 World Championship gold medallists will be in action on the picturesque Swiss course.

Many of the events will pit medallists from last year’s Pau world titles, including 3-time men’s C1 champion, Ondrej Rolenc, against Slovakia’s C1 Olympic silver medallist, Matej Benus.

The women’s C1 will see reigning world champion Claire Haab, of France, take on Czech silver medallist Martina Satkova, Slovenia’s Anze Urankar and Nejc Znidarcic will renew their gold and silver medal battles, and French duo Claire Bren and Manon Hostens will lock horns in the K1.

France’s Stephane Santamaria and Quentin Dazeur won the C2 gold medal in Pau and will start favourites this weekend.

“Hundreds of athletes from about 30 nations are set to compete on the currents of the Muota.

The paddlers compete in the categories Canadian singles and doubles, kayak singles and in teams. The classic race takes athletes on a 4.4 km course through the village of Muotathal to the Vordere Brücke.

The race takes the high speed paddlers about 12 minutes. The sprint distance of 400m can be completed in less than a minute.

Saturday, the third racing day, will not only feature the sprint racers making their appearance but also the white water paddlers.

For the second time the Swiss Championships in kayak cross are held on the Muota. Four paddlers start simultaneously from a starting ramp for a one on one battle to proceed to the next round and closer to the Championship title.

The usually calm village of Muotathal is looking forward once more to host the Canoe World Championship after 45 years.