The stage is set for paddlers from home and abroad to etch their names in history as the International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships gets underway in Sydney, Australia.
Taking place at the Olympic venue for Sydney 2000, the world’s best slalom athletes are ready to do battle from Monday on Saturday with titles set to be awarded on every day of competition.
But who will be crowned world champions at the Penrith Whitewater Centre?
Click here for live startlists and results from Sydney
Let’s look at five things to keep an eye on this week.
No Jess but Noemie is poised to fly Fox flag
The biggest omission from the top-class field of athletes in Sydney is hometown hero Jessica Fox who is unable to compete as she recovers from surgery. It is a blow, but she is still ever-present in Penrith and will now be focused on roaring on her younger sister Noemie Fox. With a section of the venue named “Fox Island” in honour of the siblings’ Olympic success in Paris last year, Noemie will hope to produce a magical moment on home waters. She acknowledges the pressure on her shoulders, but she is determined to rise to the challenge and lead the Australian charge for medals, competing in six events across kayak, canoe and kayak cross.
Can Woods continue sensational form?
With Jessica Fox not in action, it also provides an opening for others to seize their opportunity in Sydney. Kimberley Woods of Great Britain has certainly stepped up to the plate in Fox’s absence, winning gold medals in Tacen and Augsburg. Her stunning performances at the final two ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series events of the season saw Woods capture the overall titles in both canoe and kayak. Having spent many European winters in Australia, Woods considers the Penrith Whitewater Centre as a “home away from home” and will look to use that confidence from recent results and knowledge of the course to great effect as she seeks to continue her amazing form. The two-time Olympic bronze medallist also arrives as the defending champion in kayak cross, underlining her ability to challenge for titles on different fronts.
Clarke facing fight with teammates for fourth in a row
For the past three editions of the World Championships, Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke has ended up finishing at the top of the podium in kayak cross. Clarke has been a dominant force over the years and will be eyeing a fourth successive world title in the event but his British colleagues will hope to stop him in his tracks. Sam Leaver has relished his battles with Clarke this season, putting down some impressive showings, including victory at the World Cup Final in Augsburg, while fellow Brit Jonny Dickson emerged victorious in the overall kayak cross standings following a consistent season and is expected to challenge for gold in Sydney. Others in the mix for top spot are Switzerland’s Jan Rohrer and France’s Mathurin Madore.
More kayak cross history to be made
After the successful debut of kayak cross at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, another chapter is set to be written in the event’s history. For the first time, there will be world titles on offer in the women’s and men’s kayak cross individual. The time trial was previously only used to rank athletes for the head-to-head format based on their times but this season medals have been awarded on the World Cup circuit, offering another opportunity for paddlers to get on the podium. Leaver has showcased his electric pace on the water with powerful performances in the kayak cross individual to take the overall crown. France’s Camille Prigent has also shone in the event, finishing in the top two in four of the five World Cups, including golds in Pau and Tacen. Leaver and Prigent will now aim to make history in Sydney.
On-fire France target titles Down Under
As well as Prigent, the French team boast by many other paddlers who have strong chances to be in the mix for medals. Among those are Titouan Castryck and Nicolas Gestin after winning the overall titles in K1 and C1, respectively. Castryck won three out of the five World Cups to seal the series crown but is due to come up against stiff opposition in compatriot and training partner Anatole Delassus. The two Frenchmen have been trading blows all season with Castryck managing to largely get the edge in their duels but Delassus came out on top in their last tussle and will be keen to back that up in Sydney. France will also have high hopes in the men’s C1 after Olympic champion Gestin, Yohann Senechault and Mewen Debliquy went toe-to-toe in the World Cups. Gestin ended up finishing with a flourish, winning three successive World Cups to make him the man to beat in Sydney as he bids for his first individual world title after picking up silver behind Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek in London two years ago.
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