Last weekend Poznan held the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships featuring three WA athletes of an 18-strong Australian team.
The Senior World Championships offered crucial ranking points for athletes to qualify their place for LA2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This opportunity to compete against the worlds best only comes around once a year and gives our athletes the chance to quantify the hours of work and dedication they have put in over the off-season.
WA Results
Amy Ralph
Amy raced in very competitive open women’s field for the VL3 200m, qualifying a place for the B Final. Her dedication and work over the past season lead her to finish 5th in the final, securing essential points for her LA2028 paralympic qualification charge.
HEAT: 3rd Place
SEMIFINAL: 6th Place
B FINAL: 5th Place
Ben Sainsbury
Ben Sainsbury took the field by storm this year, going on to become a 3-time World Champion. He competed in the 200m across 2 events, VL1 and KL1, to be one of the standout competitors in his class to qualify for both A finals.
KL1 HEAT: 4th Place
KL1 SEMIFINAL: 3rd Place
KL1 FINAL: 9th Place
VL1 HEAT: 2nd Place
Qualified direct to Final
VL1 FINAL: 1st Place
Luke Egger
Luke debuted in his first Senior World Championships after getting his first exposure in the senior competition in 2025. As the Australian National 200m Champion, he raced the K1 200m event exceptionally to qualify a place in the B final.
HEAT: 4th Place
SEMIFINAL: 6th Place
B FINAL: 6th Place
We look forward to watching and supporting these three incredible athletes continue to pursue their Olympic dreams over the next seasons leading in to LA2028.
Click here to view the current LA2028 Qualification System.