Rising star Natalia Drobot claimed a hat-trick of prizes at the 76th Paddle Australia Awards in recognition of her sensational season.
Drobot was awarded the coveted Overall Paddler of the Year crown as well as earning Paddler of the Year in Canoe Sprint and Team of the Year with Kailey Harlen.
Her impressive haul at the ceremony in Sydney came after a stunning International Canoe Federation season.
The 20-year-old clinched four medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups in Hungary and Poland across kayak single, kayak double and kayak four boats.
She continued her medal-winning streak into the 2025 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, where she won gold in the U23 K1 500m.
Capitalising on the momentum, Drobot won two silver medals in the K1 500m and K2 500m events at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Milan.
“I feel really ecstatic and excited,” Drobot told Paddle Australia.
“It’s nice to be able to be recognised for all the hard work that’s been put in over the year.”
Kaylen Bassett and Kate Eckhard also picked up prizes at the Paddle Australia Awards after winning men’s canoe bronze and women’s kayak bronze, respectively, at this year’s ICF Slalom World Championships in Sydney.
They were joint winners of the Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross Paddler of the Year award.
Cory Hill won Canoe Ocean Racing Paddler of the Year after bagging his fourth world title with victory in Durban last month.
Other award winners were Paralympic silver medalists Dylan Littlehales and Kathy Mallory who both took home Paracanoe Paddlers of the Year prize.
The biggest night on the Paddle Australia calendar welcomed the paddling community to celebrate the great achievements of athletes, volunteers, coaches and members.
2025 Paddle Australia Award Winners
- Overall Paddler of the Year: Natalia Drobot
- President’s Award:Brian Cork
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Slalom / Kayak Cross:Kaylen Bassett
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Slalom / Kayak Cross:Kate Eckhardt
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Sprint: Natalia Drobot
- Paddle of the Year – Stand Up Paddling:Tashka Goswell
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Ocean Racing:Cory Hill
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Polo:Adam Hofmeyer
- Paddle of the Year – Canoe Marathon: Rebecca Mann
- Paddler of the Year – Canoe Freestyle: Richard Cass
- Paddle of the Year – Paracanoe: Dylan Littlehales
- Paddle of the Year – Paracanoe: Kathy Mallory
- Paddle of the Year – Masters: Daniela Angela Torre
- Paddle of the Year – Masters: Gary Nelson
- Paddle of the Year – Junior: Orlando Fonseca
- Coach of the Year: Laurence Fletcher
- Team of the Year: Women’s K2 500m (Natalia Drobot & Kailey Harlen)
- Technical Official of the Year:Laura Kleinrahm
- Services to Paddling: Sue McDougall, Nick Naughton, Margaret Naughton
- Excellence Award: Susan Seipel, Brodie Crawford, Yale Steinepreis, Gary Nelson
- Award of Merit: Bob Turner, Rebecca Jennings, Dave Peters
- Volunteer of the Year: Darragh Downey
- Club Coach of the Year: Scott Dunbar
- Instructor / Guide of the Year: Allana Bold
- Encouraging Participation Award: Can Paddle Program (Shepparton Canoe Club)
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