ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
Status	active
Genre	sporting event
Date(s)	mid-year
Frequency	annual
Country	varying
Inaugurated	1938

The ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships are an international event in canoe racing, one of two top-tier Summer Olympic sport events organized by the International Canoe Federation (the other being the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships). They are usually held every non-Olympic year and have officially included paracanoe events since 2010; paracanoe-specific editions of this event (named ICF Paracanoe World Championships) are usually held in Summer Paralympic years.

Prior to November 2008, canoe sprint was known as flatwater racing.

Explanation of events

Canoe sprint competitions are broken up into canoe (C), an open canoe with a single-blade paddle, or in kayaks (K), a closed canoe with a double-bladed paddle. Each canoe or kayak can hold one person (1), two people (2), or four people (4). For each of the specific canoes or kayaks, such as a K-1 (kayak single), the competition distances can be 200 metres (660 ft), 500 metres (1,600 ft), 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), or 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) long. When a competition is listed as a C-2 500 m event as an example, it means two people are in a canoe competing at a 500 metres (1,600 ft) distance.^[1]

Paracanoe competitions are contested in either a va'a (V), an outrigger canoe (which includes a second pontoon) with a single-blade paddle, or in a kayak (as above). All international competitions are held over 200 metres in single-man boats, with three event classes in both types of vessel for men and women depending on the level of an athlete's impairment. The lower the classification number, the more severe the impairment is – for example, VL1 is a va'a competition for those with particularly severe impairments.^[2]

Editions

ICF Paracanoe World Championships (paracanoe events only)

Events exclude exhibition events.

Edition	Year	Host City	Host Country	Events
1	1938	Vaxholm	Sweden	12
2	1948	London	Great Britain	5
3	1950	Copenhagen	Denmark	15
4	1954	Mâcon	France	15
5	1958	Prague	Czechoslovakia	15
6	1963	Jajce	Yugoslavia	16
7	1966	East Berlin	East Germany	16
8	1970	Copenhagen	Denmark	16
9	1971	Belgrade	Yugoslavia	18
10	1973	Tampere	Finland	18
11	1974	Mexico City	Mexico	18
12	1975	Belgrade	Yugoslavia	18
13	1977	Sofia	Bulgaria	18
14	1978	Belgrade	Yugoslavia	18
15	1979	Duisburg	West Germany	18
16	1981	Nottingham	Great Britain	18
17	1982	Belgrade	Yugoslavia	18
18	1983	Tampere	Finland	18
19	1985	Mechelen	Belgium	18
20	1986	Montréal	Canada	18
21	1987	Duisburg	West Germany	18
22	1989	Plovdiv	Bulgaria	22
23	1990	Poznań	Poland	22
24	1991	Paris	France	22
25	1993	Copenhagen	Denmark	22
26	1994	Mexico City	Mexico	24
27	1995	Duisburg	Germany	24
28	1997	Dartmouth	Canada	26
29	1998	Szeged	Hungary	26
30	1999	Milan	Italy	26
31	2001	Poznań	Poland	27
32	2002	Seville	Spain	27
33	2003	Gainesville	United States	27
34	2005	Zagreb	Croatia	27
35	2006	Szeged	Hungary	27
36	2007	Duisburg	Germany	27
37	2009	Dartmouth	Canada	27
38	2010	Poznań	Poland	28 + 7
39	2011	Szeged	Hungary	29 + 8
–	2012	Poznań	Poland	11
40	2013	Duisburg	Germany	29 + 12
41	2014	Moscow	Russia	29 + 12
42	2015	Milan	Italy	26 + 12
–	2016	Duisburg	Germany	12
43	2017	Račice	Czech Republic	27 + 12
44	2018	Montemor-o-Velho	Portugal	30 + 12
45	2019	Szeged	Hungary	30 + 12
–	~~2020~~	~~Duisburg~~	~~Germany~~	–
46	2021	Copenhagen	Denmark	28 + 12
47	2022	Dartmouth	Canada	30 + 12
48	2023	Duisburg	Germany	30 + 12
-	2024	Szeged	Hungary	12
49	2024	Samarkand	Uzbekistan	20
50	2025	Milan	Italy	24 + 12

Note

The 2020 ICF Paracanoe World Championships were cancelled as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3]

Events

Event	38	48	50	54	58	63	66	70	71	73	74	75	77	78	79	81	82	83	85	86	87	89	90	91	93	94	95	97	98	99	01	02	03	05	06	07	09	10	11	13	14	15	17	18	19	21	22	23	24	25	Total
Current program
Men's C-1 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	24
Men's C-1 500 m									•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	42
Men's C-1 1000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	48
Men's C-1 5000 m																																						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	13
Men's C-2 500 m									•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	41
Men's C-4 500 m																						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•								•	•	•	•	•		•	21
Men's K-1 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Men's K-1 500 m		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	49
Men's K-1 1000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	48
Men's K-1 5000 m																																						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	13
Men's K-2 500 m		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	48
Men's K-4 500 m													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•							•	•	•	•	•	•		•	31
Women's C-1 200 m																																					*	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	12
Women's C-1 500 m																																					*							•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Women's C-1 5000 m																																												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Women's C-2 200 m																																												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Women's C-2 500 m																																						*	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	11
Women's C-4 500 m																																														•	•	•		•	4
Women's K-1 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	25
Women's K-1 500 m			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	47
Women's K-1 1000 m																												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	23
Women's K-1 5000 m																						•	•	•	•													•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	17
Women's K-2 500 m		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	48
Women's K-4 500 m						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	44
Past events
Event	38	48	50	54	58	63	66	70	71	73	74	75	77	78	79	81	82	83	85	86	87	89	90	91	93	94	95	97	98	99	01	02	03	05	06	07	09	10	11	13	14	15	17	18	19	21	22	23	24	25	Total
Men's C-1 10000 m			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																										23
Men's C-1 4 × 200 m relay																																					•	•	•	•	•										5
Men's C-2 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•						20
Men's C-2 1000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		48
Men's C-2 10000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																										24
Men's C-4 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•														12
Men's C-4 1000 m																						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•								22
Men's K-1 10000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																										24
Men's K-1 4 × 200 m relay																																					•	•	•	•	•										5
Men's K-1 4 × 500 m relay		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																																							11
Men's K-2 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•						21
Men's K-2 1000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		48
Men's K-2 10000 m	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																										24
Men's K-4 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•														12
Men's K-4 1000 m	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•						45
Men's K-4 10000 m			•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•																										23
Men's folding K-1 10000 m	•																																																		1
Men's folding K-2 10000 m	•																																																		1
Women's C-1 1000 m																																															•	•	•		3
Women's K-1 600 m	•																																																		1
Women's K-1 4 × 200 m relay																																					•	•	•	•	•										5
Women's K-2 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		24
Women's K-2 600 m	•																																																		1
Women's K-2 1000 m																												•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•						18
Women's K-2 5000 m																						•	•	•	•																										4
Women's K-4 200 m																										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•														12
Women's K-4 1000 m																															•	•	•	•	•	•															6
Mixed C-2 200 m																																														•					1
Mixed K-2 200 m																																														•					1
Mixed C-2 500 m																																															•	•	•		3
Mixed C-4 500 m																																																	•		1
Mixed K-2 500 m																																															•	•	•		3
Mixed K-4 500 m																																																	•		1
Total	12	5	15	15	15	16	16	16	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	22	22	22	22	24	24	26	26	26	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	29	29	29	26	27	30	30	28	30	30	20	24

(*) Indicates exhibition events (not counted towards total)

Editions Junior and U23

ICF Canoe Sprint Junior World Championships from 1985 to 2011
ICF Canoe Sprint Junior and U23 World Championships from 2013

Source:^[4]

J (U20)	U23	Year	Host	Events
1	-	1985	Castel Gandolfo, Italy
2	-	1987	Belgrade, Yugoslavia
3	-	1989	Dartmouth, Canada
4	-	1991	Vienna, Austria
5	-	1993	Racice, Czech Republic
6	-	1995	Yamanashi, Japan
7	-	1997	Lahti, Finland
8	-	1999	Zagreb, Croatia
9	-	2001	Curitiba, Brazil
10	-	2003	Komatsu, Japan
11	-	2005	Szeged, Hungary
12	-	2007	Racice, Czech Republic
13	-	2009	Moscow, Russia
14	-	2011	Brandenburg, Germany	23 + 0
15	1	2013	Welland, Canada	14 + 14
16	2	2014	Szeged, Hungary	14 + 14
17	3	2015	Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal	16 + 16
18	4	2016	Minsk, Belarus	19 + 18
19	5	2017	Pitești, Romania	19 + 18
20	6	2018	Plovdiv, Bulgaria	19 + 18
21	7	2019	Pitești, Romania	18 + 18
-	-	2020	Brandenburg, Germany	Cancelled
22	8	2021	Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal	24 + 24
23	9	2022	Szeged, Hungary	26 + 26
24	10	2023	Auronzo, Italy	28 + 28
25	11	2024	Plovdiv, Bulgaria	24 + 24
26	12	2025	Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal	24 + 24

Lists of medalists

Medal tables

Canoe sprint (1938–2024)

This medal table does not include exhibition events. The historical medal count of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships as of the 2024 championships is as follows:


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Hungary	230	176	155	561
2	Germany	141	114	88	343
3	Soviet Union	102	80	66	248
4	East Germany	73	36	36	145
5	Romania	54	78	68	200
6	Russia	54	55	49	158
7	Canada	40	24	28	92
8	Poland	38	95	80	213
9	Sweden	33	41	48	122
10	Belarus	32	35	38	105
11	Spain	26	36	46	108
12	New Zealand	23	11	5	39
13	Australia	19	22	19	60
14	Denmark	19	20	23	62
15	Italy	16	21	18	55
16	Slovakia	16	10	12	38
17	Ukraine	15	14	36	65
18	Czech Republic	13	32	22	67
19	West Germany	13	19	24	56
20	Norway	13	14	15	42
21	France	12	17	25	54
22	Great Britain	10	16	16	42
23	Bulgaria	9	16	26	51
24	Czechoslovakia	9	15	21	45
25	Portugal	9	12	8	29
26	Lithuania	9	7	11	27
27	China	8	10	14	32
28	Yugoslavia	8	8	5	21
29	Authorised Neutral Athletes^[a]	8	5	3	16
30	United States	7	5	3	15
31	Finland	7	3	3	13
32	Brazil	7	1	7	15
33	Cuba	5	11	10	26
34	Austria	5	6	13	24
35	Azerbaijan	4	8	1	13
36	Serbia	3	6	13	22
37	Uzbekistan	3	3	8	14
38	Chile	3	3	5	11
39	Russian Canoe Federation^[b]	3	0	5	8
40	Moldova	2	4	4	10
41	Israel	2	1	2	5
42	Latvia	2	0	2	4
43	Belgium	1	3	4	8
44	Mexico	1	0	3	4
45	Saar^[c]	1	0	0	1
45	Serbia and Montenegro	1	0	0	1
47	Netherlands	0	4	4	8
48	Slovenia	0	3	5	8
49	Argentina	0	3	2	5
50	Georgia	0	2	2	4
51	Ireland	0	1	2	3
52	Croatia	0	1	1	2
53	Kazakhstan	0	0	3	3
53	South Africa	0	0	3	3
55	Iran	0	0	1	1
55	Japan	0	0	1	1
Totals (56 entries)		1,109	1,107	1,112	3,328

Paracanoe (2010–2024)

This medal table does not include exhibition events. Events were occasionally excluded from their respective medal tables due to lack of participation, but are included in this overall table. The historical medal count of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships as of the 2023 championships is as follows:


Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Great Britain	48	33	14	95
2	Brazil	21	17	18	56
3	Australia	21	7	11	39
4	Ukraine	16	8	12	36
5	Germany	8	9	7	24
6	Canada	6	10	6	22
7	Italy	6	7	10	23
8	Hungary	6	5	9	20
9	Austria	6	3	1	10
10	Spain	4	7	3	14
11	Romania	3	2	5	10
12	Russia	2	10	18	30
13	United States	2	6	6	14
14	Japan	2	2	3	7
15	Poland	1	8	7	16
16	Chile	1	4	7	12
17	French Polynesia	1	2	0	3
18	Uzbekistan	1	1	2	4
19	Russian Canoe Federation^[b]	1	1	0	2
20	China	1	0	0	1
20	Sweden	1	0	0	1
22	France	0	7	7	14
23	New Zealand	0	3	3	6
24	India	0	3	0	3
25	Portugal	0	1	2	3
26	Czech Republic	0	1	0	1
27	Iran	0	0	2	2
28	Algeria	0	0	1	1
28	Finland	0	0	1	1
Totals (29 entries)		158	157	155	470

https://www.canoeicf.com/paracanoe-world-championships/szeged-2024

Note

^ Russia and Belarus were banned following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from those countries not in support of their states' actions were permitted to compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes since 2023.
^ ^a ^b Russia was banned from the 2021 World Championships and their athletes' medals were assigned to the Russian Canoe Federation.
^ Therese Zens represented Saar when she won a gold medal in 1954. This is recorded for West Germany in the official tables.

References

^ "What is Canoe Sprint?". CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
^ "What is Paracanoe?". CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
^ "ICF updates status of events due to coronavirus concerns". Association Internationale De La Presse Sportive. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
^ "Results". 19 November 2019.

Sources

2008 ICF Congress on change from flatwater racing to canoe sprint. – accessed 30 November 2008.
"The Board of Directors Wrap Up in Windsor". – International Canoe Federation (5 December 2009) – accessed 18 December 2009.
Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). "Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007) – Part 1: flatwater (now sprint)" (PDF). CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 1–41. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). "Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007) – Part 2: rest of flatwater (now sprint) and remaining canoeing disciplines" (PDF). CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 42–83. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
Kamber, Raymond, ed. (2008). "Medal Winners – Olympic Games and World Championships (1936–2007)" (PDF). CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. pp. 1–83. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

External links

"Canoe Results – Sprint – World Championships". canoeresults.eu. European Canoe Association (ECA).

[rbb-5] Russia and Belarus were banned following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from those countries not in support of their states' actions were permitted to compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes since 2023.

[rb-6] Russia was banned from the 2021 World Championships and their athletes' medals were assigned to the Russian Canoe Federation.

[sa-7] Therese Zens represented Saar when she won a gold medal in 1954. This is recorded for West Germany in the official tables.

[1] "What is Canoe Sprint?". CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.

[2] "What is Paracanoe?". CanoeICF.com. International Canoe Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.

[3] "ICF updates status of events due to coronavirus concerns". Association Internationale De La Presse Sportive. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2021.

[4] "Results". 19 November 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]

[b]

[c]


Editions	1938 1948 1950 1954 1958 1963 1966 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979 1981 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 para 2013 2014 2015 2016 para 2017 2018 2019 2020 para 2021 2022 2023 2024 sprint para
Medalists	Men's Canadian Men's kayak Women's Canadian Women's kayak Paracanoe

Canoeing and kayaking
Main disciplines	Canoe sprint Canoe slalom Canoe marathon Canoe polo Wildwater canoeing Canoe sailing Canoe freestyle Paracanoe
Olympics	Summer Olympics Male medalists Female medalists Venues
Other disciplines	Creeking Dragon boating Nouka Baich Paddleboarding Surf skiing Surf kayaking Snow boating Squirt boating Standup paddleboarding
ICF championships	(Men's Canadian medalists Women's Canadian medalists Men's kayak medalists Women's kayak medalists Paracanoe medalists) Slalom (Men's canoe medalists Women's canoe medalists Men's kayak medalists Women's kayak medalists Mixed canoe medalists) Slalom Junior & U23 Marathon Ocean Racing Wildwater canoeing
Recreation	Small-craft sailing Whitewater canoeing / kayaking Sea kayaking Canoe camping Kayak fishing Canoe and kayak diving Dongola racing Canoe orienteering Canoe livery
Modern boats	Canoe Kayak Concrete canoe Flyak Folding kayak International Canoe Malia Recreational kayak Sprint canoe
Traditional boats	Aleutian kayak Cayuco Chundan vallam Dugout Fur brigade Outrigger canoe Pacific Northwest Rabaska Sturgeon-nosed canoe Taimen Umiak Waka War canoe Swan boat
Techniques	Canoe paddle strokes Eskimo Rescue Kayak roll Portage
Equipment	Albano buoy system Outrigger Paddle Paddle float Paddle leash Royalex Sea sock Spray deck Tuilik
Venues	Artificial whitewater Canoeing and kayaking venues
Competitions	List of world records in canoeing Adirondack Canoe Classic Au Sable River Canoe Marathon Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Marathon Dusi Canoe Marathon Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Massive Murray Paddle National Student Rodeo Thameside Series Waterside Series Riverland Paddling Marathon
Festivals	Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Duanwu Festival Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York Houston Dragon Boat Festival Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
Governing bodies	European Canoe Association American Canoe Association Paddle Australia Paddle UK British Dragon Boat Racing Association Canoe Kayak Canada Canoe Wales Croatian Canoe Federation Israel Canoe Association Scottish Canoe Association Portuguese Canoe Federation
Other organisations	Canadian Canoe Museum International Dragon Boat Federation Sir Alexander Mackenzie Canada Sea-to-Sea Bicentennial Expeditions UK Rivers Access Campaign
Media	La Chasse-galerie Paddle-to-the-Sea (film) The Rise and Fall of the Great Lakes Waterwalker
Outline