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The canoe sprint programme at the XX Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026 came to an end on Sunday at Cimino Park – Mar Piccolo, with European athletes taking every medal available across the six events on the programme.

After heats on Friday and semifinals on Saturday, the competition concluded with six medal races: Women’s C1 200m, Men’s and Women’s K2 500m, Men’s K1 1000m, Men’s C1 1000m and Women’s K1 500m.

European nations dominate the medal table

Seven European nations appeared on the medal table, with Italy finishing on top with five medals, including two golds, while Portugal collected four medals, also with two titles. Serbia followed with three medals, ahead of Spain, France, Cyprus and Croatia. In total, all 18 medals awarded in canoe sprint went to European countries.

Voltan wins a thriller in Women’s C1 200m

One of the closest races of the morning came immediately in the Women’s C1 200m, where Italy’s Elena Voltan claimed gold in 47.97, just 0.07 seconds ahead of Croatia’s Vanesa Tot. Spain’s Valeria Oliveira Otero completed the podium, only 1.04 seconds behind the winner.

Serbia and Spain take K2 titles

Serbia then celebrated victory in the Men’s K2 500m, with Strahinja Dragosavljevic and Veljko Vjestica stopping the clock at 1:28.92. Portugal’s André Miranda Moreira and Iago Bebiano took silver, 1.62 seconds behind, while Giacomo Cinti and Alessio Campari added bronze for Italy.

Spain took the title in the Women’s K2 500m through the experienced Isabel Contreras Rodríguez and Miriam Vega Manrique, who won in 1:46.63. Italy’s Sophia Vianello and Sofia Zucca finished second, with France’s Marine Bonnavaud and Loulia Lefoulon taking bronze.

Portugal shines in the individual kayak events

Portugal enjoyed a particularly strong second half of the final session. Bruno Brasileiro produced a commanding performance to win the Men’s K1 1000m in 3:48.79, finishing 2.75 seconds ahead of Italy’s Giacomo Rossi, with Serbia’s Zarko Jakovljevic taking bronze.

Italy answered in the Men’s C1 1000m, where 21-year-old Samuele Veglianti took a clear victory in 4:19.560. Portugal’s Tiago Maciel finished second, 5.87 seconds back, while France’s Lucas Laroche secured bronze.

The final title of the canoe sprint programme went back to Portugal. Ana Quintão de Brito won the Women’s K1 500m in 2:00.73, ahead of Cyprus’ Savvi Hadjicharalambous and Serbia’s Zsofi Horvat.

Young paddlers make their mark in Taranto

Horvat, born in 2008, was one of several young athletes to make an impression in Taranto, also racing in the K2 500m alongside Kaja Saric.

Another young name in action was Türkiye’s Rahmi Kaan Karahan, also born in 2008, who reached the Men’s K1 1000m final and finished sixth, while also competing in the K2 500m.

From Taranto to Poznań

There will now be almost no pause in the international canoe sprint calendar. Just three days after the final races in Taranto, the 2026 Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships begin in Poznań, Poland, running from 26 to 30 August.

Several of the boat classes contested in Taranto will once again form part of the programme in Poznań, but this time against the strongest paddlers from across the world. For Europe’s athletes, the Mediterranean Games provided one final racing opportunity before attention turns to the biggest senior canoe sprint competition of the season.

With European nations having occupied every podium position in Taranto, the performances in Italy provide an encouraging final reference point before the battle for world titles begins on Wednesday in Poznań.