A 22-strong canoe sprint and paracanoe team are making their final preparations ahead of the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships next week.
Returning to Idrascalo, Milan for the first time in 10 years, the World Championships is the biggest event on the 2025 canoe sprint and paracanoe calendar.
The world-leading paracanoe team has topped the table at every major event since the sport’s inception and they go into this competition with eight paralympic medallists within the team.
Charlotte Henshaw MBE, holds the World, Paralympic and European KL2 titles, and she will once again lead the charge in that event. She will double up to race against compatriot Hope Gordon in the VL3.
Paralympic silver medallist and European VL3 champion, Hope Gordon won her maiden European gold medal earlier this season, she is also racing in the KL3.
Joining her is Laura Sugar MBE. The reigning Paralympic and World KL3 Champion, Laura stormed to victory at the World Cup in Poznan and again in Racice for the European title in preparation for the Worlds.
Jeanette Chippington OBE returns to international racing in the women’s VL2 , marking her first major championship appearance since finishing fourth at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Chippington made her World Championship debut back in 2011 and completes a highly experienced women’s paracanoe team.
In the men’s KL2, Dave Phillipson is on a run of international success, having won the silver medal in Paris in 2024 as well as European gold in Racice and gold at the World Cup in Poznan earlier this year.
Jonny Young continues to be a dependable force in the men’s KL3, bringing valuable international experience to the team. The 2023 World silver medallist raced in Milan back in 2015 where he won silver in the VL3. He won European silver in the KL3 earlier this season.
Also returning to Milan is Tokyo silver medallist Rob Oliver. Oliver won the silver almost 10 years ago at the Idrascalo venue.
In the highly competitive men’s VL3, Jack Eyers and Stuart Wood are Paralympic and World Championship medallists, bringing proven podium potential. Their selection sets up what promises to be one of the most hotly contested finals of the entire competition.
Having made his first podium at the European Championships, Ed Clifton will be back in the VL2 along with Xander van der Poll.
Rounding off the paracanoe team is Tom Price, making his international debut in the men’s VL1.
Performance Director, Ekaitz Saies, is looking forward to his first major international event since taking the helm of the flatwater programme.
He said:
“I’m very excited to see what our para athletes can deliver in Milan.
“They’re finishing a strong final block of training and are mentally ready to produce their best performances of the year. I really enjoyed watching them race at the World Cup and European Championships, but now it’s time for all the hard work to shine through.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing some of our less experienced athletes race and continue developing within the best team in the world.”
The canoe sprint team has a new-look coaching team, under the guidance of Ekaitz and have started the new Olympic cycle positively with a new philosophy and structure.
In the women’s team, the K4 crew comprises Emily Lewis, Deborah Kerr, Zoe Clark and Kristina Armstrong.
Emily Lewis, who is also racing the K1 200m, brings Olympic experience from Tokyo and a wealth of international racing knowledge, including a K1 200m bronze medal at the 2023 Szeged World Cup.
Deborah Kerr made her Olympic debut in 2021, finishing eighth in the K1 200m final in Tokyo, she will also race in the K2 500m with fellow Scot, Kristina Armstrong – the first all Scottish crew to compete internationally.
Competing at her first senior world championships, Armstrong previously achieved U23 European gold in both K1 and K2 500m, narrowly missing out on the podium this year.
Having also won gold at the 2024 U23 European Championships in the K2 500, Zoe Clark completes the K4, and was part of the crew who finished in 7th at the senior European Championships earlier this year.
Emma Russell won the K1 5000m World Cup bronze medal in Poznan and also qualified for her first individual final in the K1 500m at the European Championships. She will lead the middle and long-distance events with selection in the K1 500m, 1000m, and 5000m, underlining her versatility and strength across distances.
In women’s canoe, Beth Gill has secured her spot on the team in the C1 200m, 500m, and 5000m, earning another opportunity to shine on the world stage after finishing eighth in the women’s C1 500m final and sixth in the 5000m in Racice.
In the men’s kayak team, Thomas Lusty earns his place in the K1 500m, after delivering a strong performance at the July regatta.
Daniel Johnson takes on the K1 1000m and 5000. In 2023, he finished seventh in the men’s K1 1000m at the Szeged World Cup and then fifth in the B final in the same event at the World Championships in Duisburg.
In the crew boats, Benji Cabrera and Tom Holland form the K2 500m, the duo recently finished in sixth place at the U23 European Championships in Pitesti.
In men’s canoe, Thomas Lambert continues his season with selection in the C1 500m, 1000m, and 5000m. He achieved a personal best finish at the 2023 European Under-23 Championships in Portugal, placing fifth in the men’s C1 1000m.
Ekaitz added:
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen significant progress, which gives me real confidence in our sprint team’s prospects.
“This World Championships is another key milestone on our journey to LA28, and the athletes are ready to race with courage, embracing the pressure of the big stage.
“With an exciting mix of experienced and emerging talent, I’m confident we’ll see the very best of them this season.”
Paracanoe
Charlotte Henshaw MBE – KL2, VL3 200m
Laura Sugar MBE – KL3 200m
Hope Gordon (Scottish Performance Squad) – KL3, VL3 200m
Jeanette Chippington OBE (Bisham) – VL2 200m
Dave Phillipson – KL2 200m
Jonathon Young (CANI) – KL3 200m
Robert Oliver (Solihull) – KL3 200m
Tom Price (Royal Leamington Spa) – VL1 200m
Ed Clifton (Chelmsford) – VL2 200m
Xander Van Der Poll (Royal Leamington Spa) – VL2 200m
Jack Eyers (Poole Harbour) – VL3 200m
Stuart Wood (4AS) – VL3 200m
Sprint team
Emily Lewis (Worcester) – K1 200m, K4 500m
Deborah Kerr (Anker Valley) – K2 500m, K4 500m
Kristina Armstrong (Scottish Performance Squad) – K2 500m, K4 500m
Zoe Clark (Royal) – K4 500m
Emma Russell (Chelmsford) – K1 500m, K1 1000m, K1 5000m
Bethany Gill (Nottingham) – C1 200m, C1 500m, C1 5000m
Thomas Lusty (Solihull) – K1 500m
Daniel Johnson (Nottingham) – K1 1000m / K1 5000m
Benji Cabrera (Nottingham) – K2 500m
Tom Holland (Wey) – K2 500m