Australia names canoe sprint, paracanoe team for 2026 Championships

Paddle Australia announced the Australian squad that will compete at the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland, from 26‑30 August. The roster features Olympic and Paralympic medallists, including four‑time Paralympic gold‑medallist Curtis McGrath, 2023 World Champion and Paris 2024 silver‑medallist Dylan Littlehales, and two‑time World Cup winner Ben Sainsbury. Rising sprint star Natalia Drobot, twin sisters Alyssa and Claudia Bailey, brothers Jean and Pierre van der Westhuyzen, and Olympic silver‑medallists Noah Havard and Riley Fitzsimmons also make the team. In the women's paracanoe events, Emily Paix, Susanna Wills and former elite swimmer Amy Ralph will debut at their first World Championships. High‑Performance Director Brendan Purcell said the athletes have shown depth and progress throughout the World Cup season and are building toward the LA2028 Olympic cycle.