The world’s best paracanoe athletes are heading to Duisburg, Germany to contest the seventh ICF Paracanoe World Championships from the 17-19 May. The championships will also act as the Paralympic qualifier for the sport that will make its debut at the Rio Games later this year.
This is the second time that World Championships will be contested on Germany’s famous stretch of water. On the first occasion in 2013 the host nations Tom Kierey (GER) pleased the crowd with victory in the KL3.
Great Britain lead the way in the sport with 20 world titles and an impressive tally of 35 medals from the seven years of world championships.
After claiming only three medals at the first two world championships, athletes representing Great Britain have won at least seven medals at each of the last four editions.
Jeanette Chippington (GBR) is the Brits star performer and has won 50% of her nations total number of gold medals (10 of 20), the most of all participants at the paracanoe world championships.
Brazil preparing for home crowd
After Great Britain, Brazil is the nation with most gold (11) and total medals (21).
At the Milan 2015 world championships, athletes representing Brazil collected seven medals (G3-B4), the highest tally for any nation at a single world championship.
Fernando Fernandes is the most decorated Brazilian athlete with 5 medals (G4-B1), all in the men's KL1.
Russia and France looking for first gold
Russia has claimed most medals at the world championships without winning a single gold (13, S4-B9). Victor Potanin has accrued the most medals for the Russian Federation with one silver and two bronze.
France has a tally of six medals (S3-B3), but like Russia is still searching for their first world title
Markus Swoboda (AUT) is the most decorated male athlete at the world championships. He has amassed six gold medals, winning every KL2 event.
Together with Jeanette Chippington (four titles in KL1), Swoboda is the only athlete who has won all world titles in a single event.
After Chippington, Christine Gauthier (CAN) has collected most medals at the world championships (8, G4-S3-B1). She won at least one medal at the first five world championships, but failed to reach the podium in 2015.
