The next generation of top paddlers are poised to make their mark when Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal hosts the 2025 International Canoe Federation Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships. 

Olympic and world medallists are among those ready to fight for age-group crowns over the next few days, while other rising stars will be looking to make a big impact on Portuguese waters. 

Running from July 23 to 27, the World Championships will feature almost 1,000 athletes from 65 nations with 44 titles up for grabs.

Click here for startlists and live results from Montemor-o-Velho 

All the action will be broadcast live on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.  

For €9.99 per month, members will be able to watch all the ICF’s major events, including the Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, as well as enjoy bonus content throughout the season.  

There will be over 40 hours of live coverage from Montemor-o-Velho as paddlers battle it out for age-group world titles in kayak, canoe, kayak team, canoe team, kayak cross individual and kayak cross head-to-head.  

Sign into YouTube, or create an account, and click JOIN to watch uninterrupted live coverage of the world’s best paddlers competing for top honours.  

Unlocking all our member features is as easy as 1, 2, 3.  

1. Sign in to YouTube, or create an account  
2. Go to Planet Canoe’s channel  
3. Click ‘JOIN’ and fill out your payment details  

After becoming a member, you will have access to the exclusive members tab and can watch members-only content.  

JOIN NOW for €9.99 per month

For more information, click here.  

July 23 
Session 1: 8:20 to 13:00 
Session 2: 13:50 to 19:00 

July 24 
Session 1: 8:50 to 12:00 
Session 2: 13:50 to 18:40 

July 25 
Session 1: 8:50 to 12:40 
Session 2: 13:50 to 19:00 

July 26 
Session 1: 8:50 to 12:10 
Session 2: 13:50 to 19:00 

July 27 
Session 1: 8:50 to 14:10 
Session 2: 14:50 to 17:20 

Gabriele Casadei (ITA): One of three Olympic medallists in the field along with Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys and Australia’s Pierre van der Westhuyzen, Casadei will be expected to deliver in Montemor-o-Velho. Casadei made history last year when he and Carlo Tacchini became the first Italians to win an Olympic medal in Canoe Sprint since 1964 courtesy of their silver in the men’s canoe double 500m. This will be an ideal time for the two-time European champion in C2 to secure a morale-boosting win ahead of a home ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with Milan playing host next month. Casadei has looked sharp so far this season and will contest the men’s canoe single U23 500m, men’s C1 U23 1000m and the men’s canoe four U23 500m. 

Strahinja Dragosavljevic (SRB): Inspired by comic book hero Superman, the Serbian speedster will be looking to showcase all his pace and power. The 19-year-old, who wears the Man of Steel’s t-shirt whenever he is in an A final, has got this season off to a flier, going toe-to-toe with reigning world champion Messias Baptista of Portugal on the senior circuit. Dragosavljevic picked up his first ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup gold in May when he shared the men’s kayak single 200m top spot with Baptista in Szeged. A month later, Dragosavljevic got the better of Baptista to be crowned European champion in Racice. Given his electrifying form, it looks like it will be difficult to stop Dragosavljevic from capturing the U23 world crown in the men’s K1 200m. 

Viktoriia Yarchevska (ESP): It’s been a breakthrough year for Yarchevska who burst onto the scene in Szeged with a stunning victory at the opening ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup of the season. Lining up alongside reigning Olympic champion Katie Vincent, Yarchevska refused to be overawed as she overcame the Canadian star to clinch women’s C1 200m gold. The Ukrainian-born paddler, who has been competing for Spain since 2023, kicked on from that success by winning two senior European titles, teaming up with Angels Moreno. Yarchevska claimed gold in both the women’s C2 200m and women’s C2 500m, beating Ukraine’s Liudmyla Luzan and Iryna Fedoriv and Hungary’s Agnes Kiss and Bianka Nagy on both occasions. They will team up again in Montemor-o-Velho bidding for women’s C2 U23 500m glory. 

Junior and U23 

Men 
Kayak: K1 200m, K1 500m, K2 500m, K4 500m, K1 1000m 
Canoe: C1 200m, C1 500m, C2 500m, C4 500m, C1 1000m 
 
Women 
Kayak: K1 200m, K1 500m, K2 500m, K4 500m, K1 1000m 
Canoe: C1 200m, C2 200m, C1 500m, C2 500m, C4 500m 

Mixed 
Kayak: K1 5000m Relay 
Canoe: C1 5000m Relay