New Zealand’s canoe sprint and paracanoe team takes on the world’s best tonight, with eight paddlers heading to Poland for the 2026 ICF World Championships. The five-day programme in Poznan, which kicks off Wednesday 26th August at 7.00pm NZT, will determine world titles and hand out vital Olympic and Paralympic qualification points that shape the sport’s next cycle.
The Kiwi contingent spans sprint kayak, outrigger canoe, and paracanoe disciplines. Aimee Fisher competes in the women’s K1 500m, while Quaid Thompson takes on both the men’s K1 1000m and K1 5000m. The men’s and women’s K4 teams bring a combined crew of eight paddlers: James Munro, Grant Clancy, Kurtis Imrie, and Hamish Legarth in the men’s boat; Olivia Brett, Jacqueline Kennedy, Greer Morley, and Lucy Matehaere in the women’s. Para athletes Scott Martlew, Finn Murphy, and Peter Cowan round out the line-up across the men’s KL2 200m, KL3 200m, and VL3 200m respectively.
Over 900 paddlers from around the globe will race on the Malta River Course. New Zealand’s first heat starts early tomorrow morning with the men’s K4 at 7.31pm NZT, followed by the women’s K4 at 9.01pm. Para and K1 competitors face overnight racing schedules typical of international championships held outside NZ time zones.
Kiwi fans can follow the action through Sky Sport, which will broadcast selected races throughout the week. For live coverage of every race, Planet Canoe’s YouTube channel streams the entire event to paid members, with a monthly subscription costing $16.99 NZD. Canoe Racing NZ will post updates across Instagram and Facebook as results roll in.
Live results and the full schedule are available via the official championship website at paddleworldwide.com. The championships wrap up Sunday 30th August.
