New Zealand’s sprint and paracanoe team heads to Brandenburg this week for a World Cup that could reshape their Olympic and Paralympic qualification hopes. The 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint & Paracanoe World Cup runs from Thursday 14 May through Sunday 17 May at the Beetzsee Regatta Course, with more than 850 athletes from 60 nations competing across the four-day programme.
For the Kiwi paddlers, the timing matters. Every ranking point counts in the race towards Los Angeles 2028, and Brandenburg offers a crucial opportunity to secure both Olympic and Paralympic qualification placings. It’s also a watershed moment for New Zealand’s paracanoe programme, with Finn Murphy and Peter Cowan making their first international starts of 2026 on home courses that suit their paddling styles.
The sprint team brings real depth to Germany. Aimee Fisher lines up in both the women’s K1 500m and the K4, joining forces with Olivia Brett, Greer Morley, and Lucy Matehaere in what looks like a strong foursome. On the men’s side, Kurtis Imrie competes across the K1 500m and the K4, while Quaid Thompson races the K1 1000m and 5000m distances. The men’s K2 500m features two combinations: James Munro and Thompson, plus Hamish Legarth and Grant Clancy, offering selector depth in a competitive field.
For Kiwi fans, Sky Sport will broadcast the weekend races live, with full coverage also available on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel (subscription required at $16.99NZD monthly). The action gets underway Thursday night from 7.00pm NZT, with New Zealand’s K4 entries hitting the water in heats from 8.36pm onwards.
Live results and a full schedule are available through the official event website at wc2026-canoesprint.de, and Canoe Racing NZ will be posting updates and commentary across Instagram and Facebook throughout the week.
