The 2026 ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in Bazhong, China delivered an intense weekend of racing across both short race and classic marathon formats, with European paddlers once again playing a major role at the top of the international field.
From Denmark and Hungary to Spain, Great Britain, France and Czechia, European athletes secured victories and multiple podium finishes throughout the competition, particularly in kayak events, while China demonstrated growing strength in canoe disciplines on home waters.
Short Race highlights
The fast and tactical 3.4 km short races opened the programme with strong European performances across all four senior categories.
K1 Women Senior Short Race
Denmark’s Pernille Külers Hostrup secured victory after a close battle with Hungary’s Panna Sinko, while Czech athlete Katerina Milova completed the podium.
Hungary continued to show depth with Panna Csepe in fourth, while Australia’s Rebecca Mann rounded out the top five.
Top 5 – K1 Women Senior Short Race
- Pernille Külers Hostrup (DEN)
- Panna Sinko (HUN)
- Katerina Milova (CZE)
- Panna Csepe (HUN)
- Rebecca Mann (AUS)
K1 Men Senior Short Race
Hungary dominated the men’s kayak short race, taking both gold and silver through Balint Noe and Csanad Sellyei. Great Britain’s James Russell secured bronze after another strong international performance.
France’s Pierre Vilella also finished inside the top five.
Top 5 – K1 Men Senior Short Race
- Balint Noe (HUN)
- Csanad Sellyei (HUN)
- James Russell (GBR)
- Juan Ignacio Caceres (ARG)
- Pierre Vilella (FRA)
C1 Women Senior Short Race
China claimed victory in the women’s canoe short race through Xinghong Li, confirming the strength of the host nation in canoe events.
France’s Yseline Huet secured silver and Hungary’s Lili Sara Matkovics took bronze, while Ukraine’s Olena Tsyhankova finished fifth.
Top 5 – C1 Women Senior Short Race
- Xinghong Li (CHN)
- Yseline Huet (FRA)
- Lili Sara Matkovics (HUN)
- Olena Tsyhankova (UKR)
- Shiyang Li (CHN)
C1 Men Senior Short Race
Spain celebrated victory through Fernando Busto Bandin, who won ahead of Hungary’s Peter Soltesz and AIN athlete Roman Erlinekov.
Another Hungarian paddler, Mihaly Pluzsik, finished fourth, once again underlining Hungary’s consistency throughout the World Cup.
Top 5 – C1 Men Senior Short Race
- Fernando Busto Bandin (ESP)
- Peter Soltesz (HUN)
- Roman Erlinekov (AIN)
- Mihaly Pluzsik (HUN)
- Haozhe Zhang (CHN)
Strong European presence in Long Distance
The longer marathon races later in the weekend continued to highlight European depth in the discipline.
Hungary’s Panna Csepe won the women’s K1 19 km final ahead of Denmark’s Pernille Külers Hostrup and Czech athlete Katerina Milova, while Denmark also placed Sophie Blomgren-Hansen inside the top six.
In the men’s K1 19 km, Denmark’s Philip Knudsen edged a dramatic finish ahead of Hungary’s Balint Noe and Csanad Sellyei, with Great Britain’s James Russell again among the leading athletes.
Hungary returned to the top of the podium in the C1 Men 16 km through Peter Soltesz, ahead of Spain’s Fernando Busto Bandin, while China secured victory in the women’s C1 16 km through Li Li.
Another major international weekend for canoe sport
The World Cup in Bazhong formed part of another packed international weekend for canoe sport worldwide, with European athletes also competing at the highest level in sprint, slalom, wildwater and ocean racing events across several continents.
Once again, Europe demonstrated remarkable consistency across disciplines, with athletes regularly fighting for victories and podium places throughout the international canoeing calendar.
25.5.2026
