The International Canoe Federation Wildwater Canoeing World Championships is returning to Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time in 10 years.
Running from May 20 to 23 on the Vrbas River, the World Championships will feature both classic and sprint racing disciplines.
A total of 225 athletes from 28 countries are poised to participate, with medals to be contested across kayak and canoe disciplines in both individual and team events.
Click here for the start lists and live results from Banja Luka
Renowned for its fast-flowing water and technical rapids, the Vrbas is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most demanding venues.
Classic races will take place over the first two days before attention turns to the battle for the sprint crowns.
France’s Laura Fontaine holds the world titles in both the classic and sprint races following her women’s C1 success in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
She will be looking to make it back-to-back classic world gold medals and extend her run to four wins on the spin in sprint.
Other defending classic world champions in the field are Slovenia’s Simon Oven, France’s Claire Bren, Theo Viens and Great Britain’s Kerry Christie and Emma Christie
There will also be several paddlers hoping to retain the sprint titles they claimed at last year’s World Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
Among those aiming to defend their sprint crowns is women’s K1 champion Klara Vankova.
Slovenia’s reigning men’s K1 sprint champion Anze Urankar arrives in Banja Luka chasing history as he targets a fourth consecutive world title, but he will face a strong challenge from compatriot Nejc Znidarcic.
One of the standout battles could emerge in the men’s C1 event, where Czech star Matej Vanek will once again face pressure from France’s Nicolas Sauteur.
Sauteur has finished runner-up three times, including the last two behind Vanek and arrives in Bosnia determined to finally convert silver into gold.
Alongside the established stars, the championships will also provide an opportunity for emerging talent to shine, including Bosnia’s 16-year-old Elliot Filipovic who is among the youngest athletes set to compete.
One of the most intriguing storylines may come from Croatia’s Emil Milihram.
At 43 years old, the six-time world champion returns to the Vrbas River where he last captured the world crown in the men’s C1 classic.
Full coverage of the ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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