With less than one week remaining before the start of the 2026 Paddle Europe Canoe Marathon Championships in Pitești, Romania, Paddle Europe spoke with two of the sport's most prominent athletes: reigning World Champion Mads Brandt Pedersen of Denmark and reigning European Champion Anna Sletsjøe of Norway.
Both athletes arrive in Romania carrying not only major titles but also unique perspectives on the evolution of marathon racing, athlete development and the growing connection between sprint and marathon disciplines.
Pedersen, who returns to the venue where he claimed world gold in 2021, described Pitești as a special place in his career and highlighted the demanding nature of the course and its challenging portage. Looking ahead, his ambitions remain unchanged.
"My goal never changes: I always race to win."
The Danish star also reflected on how marathon racing continues to evolve and why he believes the discipline still has enormous untapped potential in terms of media exposure and fan engagement.
On the women's side, defending European Champion Anna Sletsjøe spoke about balancing Olympic sprint racing with elite marathon competition, the growing depth of women's marathon racing and the importance of bringing the sport closer to fans through strong storytelling and social media.
Asked about her ambitions for Romania, the Norwegian remained characteristically concise:
"Not any worse than last year ;)"
The full interviews will be published during the weekend as part of Paddle Europe's build-up coverage to the 2026 Paddle Europe Marathon Championships, offering fans a unique insight into the mindset of two athletes expected to play leading roles in Pitești.
The 2026 Paddle Europe Canoe Marathon Championships begin next week in Romania, bringing together Europe's best marathon paddlers for this year edition.
19.6.2026
