Australia’s Jessica Fox is poised to make her long-awaited return to international competition this week as the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup Series begins in Tacen, Slovenia.
The three-time Olympic champion returns to racing after undergoing surgery to remove a kidney tumour last year, which forced her to miss the final two World Cups of the season and the World Championships on home waters in Sydney.
Click here for the start lists and results from Tacen
Fox will be one of 198 athletes who will take arguably Canoe Slalom’s most technically demanding whitewater courses in pursuit of World Cup glory across the kayak, canoe and kayak cross events.
Located just northwest of Ljubljana, the Tacen Whitewater Course is renowned for its unpredictable currents and punishing features, regularly testing even the sport’s most experienced paddlers.
The opening two days of competition will feature kayak and canoe events, before kayak cross takes centre stage on the final day of racing.
Host nation Slovenia also carries strong medal hopes, with local favourite Luka Bozic and Olympic champion Benjamin Savsek expected to be among the leading contenders on home waters.
They will be joined by siblings Eva Alina Hocevar and Ziga Lin Hocevar, both runners-up at last year's event in Tacen, who will be hoping to turn silver into gold in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Another compelling storyline comes through Spain’s Maialen Chourraut, who continues to compete at the highest level at 43 years old. The Olympic champion remains one of the sport’s most experienced competitors and continues to challenge a new generation of athletes.
At the opposite end of the age spectrum, China’s Xu Linxi, aged just 16, will be among the youngest paddlers in the field as she continues her emergence on the international stage.
Great Britain arrives with a strong lineup led by Olympic champion Joseph Clarke and double Olympic bronze medallist Kimberley Woods.
Woods enters the event as a reigning overall World Cup Series champion in K1 and C1 following a standout campaign in 2025.
In the women’s C1, Elena Lilik of Germany returns aiming to taste victory on Slovenian waters again following her triumph in Tacen last year.
France once again boasts a formidable squad, featuring reigning world champions Nicolas Gestin in C1 and Titouan Castryck in K1. In kayak cross, Mathurin Madore will also aim to remain on top of the podium after tasting success last time out in Tacen.
Join Planet Canoe's YouTube channel for €9.99 per month to unlock members-only content and features
Related links
