Two years before the Olympic Games, Joe Clarke, Kimberley Woods and Lois Leaver have all made their mark at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Oklahoma City. Staged on the course that will host the canoe slalom events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the championships also represent the opening event of the Olympic Qualification System. The British team has already enjoyed a successful campaign, claiming multiple medals, a world title and several strong team performances.
Individual medals and a team world title for the British squad
The standout British result came from Joe Clarke, who was crowned world champion in the kayak cross individual time trial. Already a four-time world champion in the discipline, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion secured the seventh world title of his career after posting the fastest time of the final (46.54), putting himself in an ideal position ahead of the kayak cross knockout stages.
Lois Leaver also claimed the first senior World Championship medal of her career, taking bronze in the same kayak cross individual time trial. The British paddler, who was crowned U23 K1 world champion earlier this season, finished just 0.12 seconds away from the world title.
On the course that will host the LA 2028 Olympic competition, Kimberley Woods also produced a statement performance. Despite receiving a two-second penalty, the two-time Olympic medallist secured bronze in the women’s K1, earning her third individual World Championship medal in the discipline.
The British team also came within touching distance of another podium through Sam Leaver. The younger brother of Lois finished fourth in the men’s K1 final, missing out on bronze by less than a second after picking up a two-second penalty. Nevertheless, it was an impressive performance in his senior World Championship debut.
The team events also highlighted the depth of the British squad. In the men’s C1 team event, Adam Burgess, Ryan Westley and Peter Linksted claimed the world title ahead of France with a flawless run. Although the event is not part of the Olympic programme, it remains one of the sport’s most demanding disciplines, requiring three world-class paddlers to deliver a perfectly executed team run.
In the remaining team events, the British crews narrowly missed out on further medals. Kimberley Woods, Lois Leaver and Bethan Forrow finished fourth in the women’s K1 team event, while Joe Clarke, Sam Leaver and Ben Haylett placed fifth in the men’s K1 team event, just two tenths of a second shy of the podium. In the women’s C1 team event, Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin and Ellis Miller also finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a medal.