Olympic, Paralympic and world champions are among the candidates vying to join the International Canoe Federation’s Athletes’ Committee. 

The ICF can today reveal the names of the athletes that have been nominated to stand in this year’s elections. 

A total of 23 paddlers from 14 nations will be aiming to win votes as they seek to be part of the Athletes’ Committee for 2025-2029. 

The Athletes’ Committee will feature eight athletes, including two from Canoe Sprint, two from Canoe Slalom, two from Paracanoe and two representatives from non-Olympic disciplines. 

Gender parity will be reached in the eight-member group with a male and female athlete elected from each of these disciplines.  

Voting for the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe representatives will take place during the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships from August 20 to 24 in Milan, Italy, with the election results announced following the conclusion of the competition.  

Canoe Sprint 
Female: 
Yoana GEORGIEVA (BUL) 
Bridgitte HARTLEY (RSA) 
Saman SOLTANI (ICF) 
Katie VINCENT (CAN) 
Shixiao XU (CHN) 

Male: 
Sebastian BRENDEL (GER) 
Jackson COLLINS (AUS) 
Carlo TACCHINI (ITA) 

Paracanoe 
Female: 
Emma WIGGS (GBR) 

Male: 
Brahim GUENDOUZ (ALG) 
Eslam JAHEDI (IRI) 

Canoe Slalom paddlers will have an opportunity to vote when Penrith, Australia stages the ICF Slalom World Championships from September 29 to October 4, with the elected representatives added to ICF Athletes’ Committee following the competition.  

Canoe Slalom 
Female: 
Noemie FOX (AUS) 
Amalie HILGERTOVA (CZE) 

Male: 
Michal MARTIKAN (SVK) 

In October, the ICF Board of Directors will meet to confirm the final two members from the non-Olympic disciplines after recommendations by the other six elected representatives.  

Non-Olympic disciplines 
Female: 
Rosemary EDWARDS (GBR) 
Giulia FORMENTON (ITA) 
Marie NEMCOVA (CZE) 
Danielle RICHARDS (NZL) 

Male: 
Charlie BRACKPOOL (GBR) 
Mackenzie HYNARD (AUS) 
Andrii KRAITOR (BUL) 
James PRALIJA (AUS) 
Quentin URBAN (FRA) 

Click here for more information and videos from the candidates

After this, a meeting will be held where the eight-member Athletes’ Committee will elect their own Committee Chair, who will have a place on the ICF Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  

Athletes’ Committee members will act as ambassadors within the ICF’s athlete support programmes on topics including mental health and wellbeing, prevention of harassment in sport, anti-doping in sport and prevention of competition manipulation.  

They will also serve as ambassadors for paddle sports outside of the ICF as they are encouraged to nominate for positions on multi-sport Athletes’ Committees or Boards in national and international sport.  

Among the goals of the ICF Athletes’ Committee is to establish and maintain two-way communication with athletes in the paddling community at all levels of the sport and work for the benefit of all paddlers.  

The Athletes’ Committee will hold regular meetings with all its members and will be the voice of the athletes on all discussions within the ICF’s decision-making bodies. 

For more information about the role and responsibility of the ICF Athletes’ Committee, click here.