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ICF Wildwater Canoeing Committee activities Q2 2026

Manuela Gawehn Medal Ceremoy

A Busy and Exciting Season for Wildwater Canoeing

The past few months have been among the busiest of the season, with the ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships and the opening rounds of the 2026 World Cup series providing outstanding competition, development opportunities, and continued growth for our discipline.

New Nations Reach the World Championships Through Development Support

One of the most encouraging outcomes of this year's ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships was the successful integration of new and emerging nations through the ICF Development Programme. The championships welcomed athletes from all five continents, demonstrating the truly global reach of our sport and the effectiveness of our long-term development strategy. The event was a great success both on and off the water. Particularly noteworthy was the diversity of nations represented on the medal table. Athletes from a wide range of countries reached the podium, highlighting the increasing competitiveness of Wildwater Canoeing worldwide and showing that excellence in our sport is no longer concentrated within only a few traditional strongholds. The World Championships also included the Masters World Championships, providing a valuable opportunity for athletes of all ages to compete at the highest international level. Among the standout performers was Italy’s Cecilia Panato, who once again demonstrated her exceptional class across all boat classes. Competing in K1, C1 and C2 events, Panato delivered one of the most remarkable performances of the championships, winning a total of five gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. Her versatility and consistency across multiple disciplines further underlined her position as one of the leading athletes in Wildwater Canoeing today.

Special recognition must be given to the Local Organising Committee in Banja Luka. In the months leading up to the event, the organisers faced considerable uncertainty regarding the available budget due to the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite these challenges, a remarkably small team of just eight dedicated volunteers and staff members successfully delivered a World Championship event of a high standard. Their commitment, flexibility and determination ensured smooth operations throughout the competition and demonstrated the passion that continues to drive Wildwater Canoeing around the world.

https://www.canoeicf.com/news/why-vrbas-continues-rise-wildwater-canoeing-destination
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/friendships-forged-and-lessons-learned-wildwater-canoeing-development-camp
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/urankar-and-fontaine-make-it-four-row-novosadova-shines-banja-luka
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/sprint-stars-lock-horns-chance-glory-nears
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/how-milihram-43-pulled-extraordinary-victory-banja-luka
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/france-do-double-banja-luka-italys-panato-continues-golden-run
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/panato-enjoys-golden-opening-day-milihram-masters-banja-luka-course
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/wildwater-paddlers-chase-classic-and-sprint-glory-banja-luka
https://www.canoeicf.com/news/all-you-need-know-about-2026-icf-wildwater-canoeing-world-championships

Cecilia Panato Wildwater Canoeing 2026

Historic World Cup Debut in Hungary

Immediately following the World Championships, the 2026 Wildwater Canoeing World Cup season continued with World Cups 1 and 2 in Dunaremete, Hungary.

For the first time, Hungary hosted an ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Cup event. Set within a protected natural environment, the venue impressed athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators alike. The organizers created an outstanding competition environment and demonstrated that Dunaremete has all the potential to host major international events in the future.

The enthusiasm generated by the event was evident throughout the week, and there was broad agreement among participants that the venue should remain an important part of the international calendar in the years ahead.

Banja Luka ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships

Sprint Spectacle in Cunovo

The World Cup series then moved to Cunovo, Slovakia, where World Cups 3 and 4 featured two exciting sprint competitions on the renowned slalom course.

The fast and technical course produced thrilling racing and once again highlighted the growing international appeal of Wildwater Canoeing. Athletes from an unprecedented number of nations competed throughout the World Cup series, reflecting the success of our ongoing development efforts.

Final World Cup Stop in Mezzana

As this reporting period comes to an end, attention now turns to the final World Cup of the season in Mezzana. The event will bring together the world's best athletes once more and provide a fitting conclusion to an exciting and successful international campaign.

Joint Development Programme Delivers Record Participation

A significant innovation this season was the introduction of a combined Development Programme for Wildwater Canoeing and Canoe Slalom athletes during the opening World Cups.

The initiative brought together athletes from emerging nations across both disciplines, creating valuable opportunities for shared learning, coaching exchange, and international cooperation. The benefits were clear for everyone involved. By combining resources and expertise, we were able to create a stronger development environment while reaching the highest number of participating nations ever seen at a Wildwater Canoeing World Cup.

This collaborative approach serves as an excellent example of how different paddle sport disciplines can work together to achieve common development goals.

https://www.canoeicf.com/news/slalom-and-wildwater-combine-ultimate-whitewater-development-camp-experience

Growing Our International Technical Officials Network

Another important achievement of the season has been the continued development of our officiating community.

During the various international competitions, education and assessment activities were conducted for new officials. We are pleased to welcome eight new International Technical Officials (ITOs) to the Wildwater Canoeing family. Their successful certification represents an important investment in the future quality, fairness, and professionalism of our competitions.

The education programme will continue in August during the Junior and U23 European Championships in Scotland, where further judge training and assessment activities will take place. Developing a strong and internationally diverse officiating network remains a key priority for the discipline.

Acknowledgements

The Wildwater Canoeing Committee would like to express its sincere gratitude to all National Federations and partners who have supported our activities throughout the season.

Many of our development initiatives would not be possible without the generous contribution of equipment, expertise, volunteers, coaches, officials, and other forms of manpower provided by member nations. Your commitment and willingness to support emerging athletes and developing federations are essential to the continued growth of our discipline.

Together, we are building a stronger and more inclusive future for Wildwater Canoeing.

Looking Ahead

Although much has already been accomplished this season, several important international Wildwater Canoeing competitions still lie ahead in the coming months.

At the same time, one of the major challenges facing our discipline is the increasing difficulty of finding organisers willing and able to host international events. The long-term success of our competition calendar depends on a strong network of committed organisers and host federations.

We therefore encourage all National Federations that may be interested in organising international Wildwater Canoeing events in the coming years to contact the Wildwater Canoeing Committee. Whether for World Cups, Championships, or development activities, new venues and committed organisers are essential to ensuring the continued growth and visibility of our sport.

We look forward to working together with the global Wildwater Canoeing community to build an exciting future for our discipline.

By Manuela Gawehn, Chair of the ICF Wildwater Canoeing Committee