OTTAWA, ONTARIO (May 5, 2026) – Twenty-four Canadian sprint paddlers have earned their spots on the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup teams following a successful National Team Trials #1 (NTT #1).
NTT #1 served as the selection event for ICF Sprint World Cup #1 and World Cup #2. Thank you to everyone who made NTT #1 a success this week. A special thank you to the officials who volunteered their time to ensure a smooth competition.
The sprint team of 24 talented athletes spans all four disciplines – Men’s Kayak, Men’s Canoe, Women’s Kayak, Women’s Canoe, and Paracanoe – and includes a strong combination of emerging talent and seasoned international competitors.
Among those selected are six Olympians: 3-time Olympic medalist Katie Vincent (Paris 2024 gold & bronze, Tokyo 2020 bronze), Sloan Mackenzie (Paris 2024 bronze), Sophia Jensen (Paris 2024), Michelle Russell (Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020), Riley Melanson (Paris 2024), and Connor Fitzpatrick (Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020).
The Paracanoe team also brings exceptional experience to the international stage at World Cup 2, in Brandenburg. Brianna Hennessy, a two-time Paralympian (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), won Canada’s first-ever Paralympic medal in para canoe with a silver in the VL2 at Paris 2024, backed by three consecutive world silver medals. Erica Scarff is a two-time Paralympian (Rio 2016, Paris 2024) and 2023 World Championship silver medallist in the VL3. Mathieu St-Pierre is a two-time Paralympian (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024) who continues to build on his experience in the men’s VL2. Gabe Ferron-Bouius is a regular on the international circuit and a consistent competitor at the world championship level.
The Sprint World Cup season opens on May 8 in Szeged, Hungary, followed by a second Sprint World Cup event on May 14 in Brandenburg, Germany.
“The depth of performance we witnessed at NTT #1, and the momentum of our Paracanoe team from last season, is a strong signal of where this program is headed. These athletes have earned their nominations through hard work, and we are confident they will represent Canada with pride on the international stage. We look forward to seeing them compete at Szeged and Brandenburg as we build momentum toward the World Championships in Poznan,” said Ian Mortimer, CKC’s Chief Technical Officer.
Selections were made in accordance with the CKC Criteria, which are publicly available on the Canoe Kayak Canada website.
The CKC High Performance Committee confirmed the following athlete nominations:
2026 SPRINT WORLD CUP TEAM
| WOMEN’S KAYAK | MEN’S KAYAK |
| Anna Archibald – Banook Canoe Club | Cameron Low – Balmy Beach Canoe Club |
| Callie Loch – Rideau Canoe Club | Ian Gaudet – Banook Canoe Club |
| Julia Demchuk – Calgary Canoe Club | Lucas Stein – Balmy Beach Canoe Club |
| Michelle Russell – Abenaki Aquatic Club | Owen Maclean – Balmy Beach Canoe Club |
| Riley Melanson – Senobe Aquatic Club | Tate Levy – Senobe Aquatic Club |
| WOMEN’S CANOE | MEN’S CANOE |
| Evie McDonald – Carleton Place Canoe Club | Andrew Billard – Maskwa Aquatic Club |
| Katie Vincent – Mississauga Canoe Club | Connor Fitzpatrick – Senobe Aquatic Club |
| Sloan Mackenzie – Cheema Aquatic Club | Émile Bouvier – Club de canoë kayak Pointe-Claire |
| Sophia Jensen – Cascades | Nikita Ciudin – Calgary Canoe Club |
| Zoe Wojtyk – Rideau Canoe Club | Zachary Kralik – Mississauga Canoe Club |
2026 PARACANOE WORLD CUP TEAM
| WOMEN’S PARACANOE | MEN’S PARACANOE |
| Brianna Hennessy – Ottawa River Canoe Club | Gabriel Ferron-Bouius – Rideau Canoe Club |
| Erica Scarff – Mississauga Canoe Club | Mathieu St-Pierre – Club de canotage de Shawinigan |
Visit Canoe Kayak Canada’s website at canoekayak.ca to get more information and make sure to follow @CanoeKayakCAN for social updates.
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About Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is the national governing body for competitive paddling in Canada, one of Canada’s top performing summer sports with a total of 29 Olympic and Paralympic medals, and a leader in the Paralympic movement. Canoe Kayak Canada is a member-based organization that includes an intricate network of clubs as well as provincial, territorial and divisional paddling associations. Elite National Team athletes proudly represent Canada at various competitions around the globe – most notably the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Pan American Games, ICF World Cups as well as Junior, Under 23 and Senior World Championships. Follow Canoe Kayak Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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For more information:
Colleen Coderre
Communications Lead
ccoderre@canoekayak.ca
Emmalee Nother
Communications Manager
enother@canoekayak.ca