Comebacks, close battles and historic golds were the main themes in the 2025 International Canoe Federation Paracanoe season. Here is a look back on yet another fantastic campaign.  

Arigato, Poznan 

The 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan once again showcased Asia’s rise in Paracanoe as Japan made history with two gold medals thanks to Yuta Takagi and Monika Seryu. It was the first back-to-back Paracanoe golds for Japan, as Takagi dominated from start to finish in the men’s VL1 final. Soon, his compatriot Seryu swept to the women’s VL1 gold medal. Her victory was extra special as she edged out world champion Viktoryia Pistis Shablova of Italy. Seryu also went on to win VL1 bronze at the World Championships in Milan, finishing on a high.  

New nationality, same old Yemelianov 

The return of Paracanoe action at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan also marked a new chapter for the sensational Serhii Yemelianov. For him, it was the first ICF competition in three years and nine months. After switching allegiances from Ukraine to Georgia, emotions were running high. But instead of succumbing under pressure, the 32-year-old stormed to the men’s KL3 gold. That was not the end. At the World Championships in Milan, he won his fifth gold medal. Think that was it? No, and that is why Yemelianov is special. He also won the European KL3 title, European marathon gold medal, and a historic silver as Gyor, Hungary, hosted the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships.     

Marathon history 

History was made in Gyor, Hungary, as Germany’s Anja Adler, Lillemor Köper, and Moritz Berthold, Great Britain’s Jeanette Chippington, Timo Alexander Nowak Lonsdale of Denmark, Robert Suba of Hungary, Nicolas Martinez of Spain, Austria’s Markus Mendy Swoboda, Canada’s Mathieu St-Pierre, Poland’s Katarzyna Kozikowska, Mathieu St-Pierre of Canada, France’s Myriam Clavreul, and Individual Neutral Athlete Larisa Volik were among the first paddlers to be awarded gold medals as Paracanoe became an official event at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships. After demonstration races in the past few editions, the 2025 World Championships showed that nothing can stop these incredible Paracanoe paddlers from competing over the 6k and 10k courses.    

British excellence  

With four gold medals and eight in total, Great Britain added to their legacy in Paracanoe at the World Championships in Milan. In the first flagship competition since the Paralympic Games Paris 2024, where they also finished as the best nation, Great Britain showed that they are the country to beat in the discipline. Even without the injured multiple Paralympic champion Emma Wiggs, David Phillipson, Charlotte Henshaw, Laura Sugar, and Hope Gordon stood on top of the podium in Milan to seal top position. The cherry on the cake was UK Sport recognising Paddle UK’s Paracanoe team with the Innovation Award, showing the dedication and effort put into being the best.     

Battles intensify  

Missing out on a gold medal by 0.52 in Poznan to Brazilian Luis Carlos Cardoso Da Silva was a tough pill to swallow for the Hungarian Paralympic champion Peter Kiss, who got the better of Da Silva in Milan. Another close battle was between good friends Fernando Rufino de Paulo and Igor Alex Tofalini of Brazil. The former finished second to Tofalini in Poznan, but ensured he was not going to allow him to do a repeat at the World Championships in Milan. Poznan also saw Chile’s Katherinne Wollermann coming unstuck against Ukraine’s Maryna Mazhula in the women’s KL1, only for the results to be reversed in Milan.