After two decades of chasing glory on the ice, the United States’ Declan Farmer is swapping out his hockey stick for a paddle with the ambition of chasing Paralympic glory in a Summer Games for the very first time.
Farmer took his first Paralympic gold in sled hockey at the winter Games at just 16-years-old in Sochi, South Korea, and his since won three more on the bounce.
With 44 weeks of preparation leading his opening moment on the water, Farmer paddled up to the start line in Montreal to make more history for himself.
Click here for the live start lists and results from Montreal
Following his debut race he said, “It feels good to get the first one out of the way.
“I’ve been doing the same sport for 20 years [sled hockey] so it’s been a humbling experience to do something new and come last in the race,” he joked.
“I think this week of racing is about gaining experience so it’s fun.”
After the conclusion of the winter Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina earlier this year, and with Farmer securing his fourth gold in a row, his attention turned to the water.
“After Milano Cortina [winter Paralympic Games 2026] there’s so much hype and then it just sort of dies down, you want to keep competing in some ways.”
It wasn't just the thrill of competing that compelled him to the water, he found inspiration right on the hockey rink.
“My teammate Jack Wallace picked up Paracanoe a few years, and his hockey game actually got a lot better from the cross-training elements of it, so that was a big motivation for me,” said Farmer.
“It’s a fun challenge mentally to race as well.
Both athletes have their sights set on LA28, beyond the World Cup and World Championships, with the hopes of both coming dual-sport Paralympian’s across the summer and winter Games.
Going from ice to water might seem worlds apart, but for Farmer, the skills he has developed over a two-decade long sled hockey career, have helped him in many ways.
But for the sport itself, it’s a completely different challenge for the 28-year-old.
“You’re racing in a 40 to 45 second sprint where you can't make little mistakes.
“In hockey it’s a team game, it’s a long game so you can make up for mistakes, but here you have to be dialled in.”
“It’s a different kind of challenge.”
“I think the off-water/off-ice training is quite similar; you’re using a lot of the same muscles.”
“I think the preparation and mentality are the same too.”
As competition enters its full swing in Montreal for the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup, the renowned winner has put his dream goal out in the open.
“I’m not too sure what the future looks like, but the goal is to qualify for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles for sure.
“I’ve got a long way to go, but if I keep improving, then I’m happy.”
Despite placing last in both his opening races, this seems to be just the beginning of Farmers career on the water, as he juggles two sports over two seasons.
Brazil take the top spot in five heats on opening day
Brazil enjoyed a dominant start to the Paracanoe heats, with Fernando Paulo leading the men’s KL2 200m in 43.63 ahead of Chile’s Franco Gutierrez and Italy’s Christian Volpi.
Flavio Reitz then topped the second heat, with Austria’s Markus Swoboda and Israel’s Adi Ezra also progressing directly to the final.
Brazil’s strong form continued in the men’s KL3 200m as Gabriel Porto and Miqueias Rodrigues both won their heats.
South Korea’s Yong Choi, Great Britain’s Jon Tarrant, Australia’s Dylan Littlehales and Spain’s Juan Valle also secured automatic qualification.
Fernando Paulo added another Brazilian heat victory in the men’s VL2 200m, joined in the final by Spain’s Higinio Rivero and Great Britain’s Xander Van Der Poll.
In the second heat, the United States’ Steven Haxton finished first, with Hungary’s Robert Suba and Great Britain’s Edward Clifton also advancing.
Great Britain’s Paracanoe athletes maintain impressive form
Great Britain’s Stuart Wood in 48.48 and Brazil’s Giovane Paula in 48.45 claimed the two men’s VL3 200m heat wins to book their places in the final.
In the women’s KL2 200m, Great Britain’s Charlotte Henshaw continued her pursuit of a third World Cup gold of the season by winning her heat, while compatriot Emma Wiggs also advanced as a heat winner.
The United States’ Emily Gray, Brazil’s Leonice Friedrich, Germany’s Anja Adler and Hungary’s Katalin Varga completed the automatic qualifiers.
France’s Nelia Barbosa led the women’s KL3 200m qualifiers, with Poland’s Katarzyna Sobczak and Spain’s Araceli Menduina also progressing from the opening heat.
Great Britain's Hope Gordon topped the second heat in 48.32, ahead of Germany’s Felicia Laberer and Italy’s Amanda Embriaco, who also advanced directly to the final.
Full coverage of the ICF Paracanoe World Cup in Montreal can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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