The International Canoe Federation is pleased to reveal the latest standings in the brand new Canoe Sprint World Rankings.
After back-to-back World Cups in Szeged and Poznan, the ICF can unveil the new rankings in the women’s kayak, men’s kayak, women’s canoe and men’s canoe categories.
Here’s a breakdown of the leaders and the biggest movers in each category following the opening two World Cups of the season.
Women’s Kayak
Leader: Anna Pulawska (POL)
It’s been a dream start for Poland’s Anna Pulawska who is on top of the world following her sensational performances in both Szeged and Poznan. Pulawska picked up 2000 points courtesy of her victories in the women’s kayak single 500m in Poznan and women’s K1 200m in Szeged. She also won silver in the women’s kayak double 500m in Poznan and gold in the women’s K1 500m in Szeged but only the best result counts from each of the different competitions. New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher is also on 2000 points thanks to her triumphs in the women’s K1 1000m in both Szeged and Poznan, but Pulawska holds top spot after a random draw was made to determine the leader. Go to the bottom of this page to find out how paddlers are ranked when level on points.
Biggest mover: Emma Russell (GBR)
Climbing 44 places was Great Britain’s Emma Russell after securing a bronze medal in the women’s K1 5000m in Poznan. These 840 points added to the 560 points earned from her sixth-place finish in the C final of the women’s K1 500m in Szeged sees her fly up the rankings to 27th.
Top of the continents
- Africa: Esti Olivier (RSA)
- Asia: Nan Wang (CHN)
- Europe: Anna Pulawska (POL)
- Oceania: Aimee Fisher (NZL)
- Pan America: Beatriz Briones Fragoza (MEX)
Click here for the full rankings
Men’s Kayak
Leader: Balint Kopasz (HUN)
Two events done, two events won for Hungary’s Balint Kopasz as he sealed back-to-back victories in the men’s K1 1000m. Kopasz, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, overcame a strong challenge from South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore to win in Szeged before triumphing in Poznan to put him on 2000 points overall. While Kopasz starred over 1000m, his compatriot Adam Varga won over 500m in both Szeged and Poznan to also register 2000 points.
Biggest mover: Jost Zakrajsek (SLO)
After earning 450 points in Szeged with a sixth placing in the D final in the men’s K1 1000m, an eighth-place finish in the men’s K1 5000m has earned Jost Zakrajsek a further 720 points. His points tally of 1170 has seen the Slovenian rise an impressive 74 places to 65th in the rankings.
Top of the continents
- Africa: Hamish Lovemore (RSA)
- Asia: Dong Zhang (CHN)
- Europe: Balint Kopasz (HUN)
- Oceania: Thomas Green (AUS)
- Pan America: Agustin Vernice (ARG)
Click here for the full rankings
Women’s Canoe
Leader: Katie Vincent (CAN)
It’s been a fantastic start to the season for reigning Olympic champion Katie Vincent as the Canadian paddler picked up three gold medals from the opening two World Cups. Two of those triumphs have counted towards her overall tally of 2000 points after winning the women’s C1 500m in Szeged and women’s C1 200m in Poznan. Her performance in Poznan underlined her determination to remain at the top after missing out on a medal in the women’s C1 200m in Szeged. Hungary’s Zsofia Katalin Csorba also picked up 2000 points after clinching the women’s C1 5000m crown in both Szeged and Poznan.
Biggest mover: Bethany Gill (GBR)
Like her British team-mate Emma Russell in the kayak, Bethany Gill enjoyed medal success in Poznan to help her rise up the rankings. The canoeist jumped 37 places to 23rd after securing a silver medal in the women’s C1 5000m. These 900 points added to the 440 points she achieved with a ninth-place finish in the women’s C1 500m sees Gill make great process in the rankings.
Top of the continents
- Africa: Goodness Foloki (NGR)
- Asia: Yanan Ma (CHN)
- Europe: Zsofia Katalin Csorba (HUN)
- Oceania: N/A
- Pan America: Katie Vincent (CAN)
Click here for the full rankings
Men’s Canoe
Leader: Martin Fuksa (CZE)
Judging by Martin Fuksa’s comprehensive performances at the start of the season, it looks like it’s going to be hard to stop the Czech paddler. The reigning Olympic champion has picked up three golds with two of those counting towards his 2000-point total after triumphing in the men’s C1 1000m in Szeged and men’s C1 500m in Poznan. He is the only athlete in this category to collect maximum points from the first two World Cups with Cuba’s Jose Ramon Pelier Cordova sitting second on 1900 points.
Biggest movers: Youmin Zuo (CHN) and Linshan Lei (CHN)
China saw two of its athletes rise a whopping 54 spots in the rankings after Youmin Zuo and Linshan Lei formed part of the Chinese team that clinched silver in the men’s canoe four 500m in Poznan. They were both awarded 720 points which saw their total increase to 1188 after collecting 468 points each in Szeged after placing fifth in final B of the men’s C2 500m.
Top of the continents
- Africa: Mohamed Gouda (EGY)
- Asia: Yuebin Yu (CHN)
- Europe: Martin Fuksa (CZE)
- Oceania: N/A
- Pan America: Jose Ramon Pelier Cordova (CUB)
Click here for the full rankings
Tie-break rules
As per the current Canoe Sprint World Ranking rules, if two or more athletes have equal points in the ranking, the following three tie-break rules decide in placing them:
- The athlete with the higher registered ranking point from any result in the most recent complete season will rank higher.
- If still level, the athlete with the higher registered ranking point from any result in all observed seasons will rank higher.
- If still level, a draw will decide the ranking.
As this is the first season under the new Canoe Sprint World Ranking system, the only reference point is 2025, meaning paddlers with the same number of points will be ranked by a random draw.
