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Aussie Slalom Team Ready to Begin 2026 ICF World Championships Campaign in Oklahoma

Paddle Australia

The Australian Canoe Slalom team is set for six days of elite action in Oklahoma City, the venue for the LA 2028 Olympic Games, at the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships from 20-25 July.

The team has completed their final training runs as they get ready to take on the world’s best canoe slalom paddlers in hot and humid conditions.

The 11-strong Australian team will feature three-time Olympic gold medalist and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders Jessica Fox, Olympic Kayak Cross champion Noemie Fox and 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championship medalists Kaylen Bassett (NSWIS) and Kate Eckhardt. There are three senior World Championship debutants on the team including Lachlan Bassett, Merle Long (NSWIS) and Ada Mackie (NSWIS).

The championships also marks the beginning of the LA 2028 Olympic qualification period for the athletes, fittingly in the place where in two years time many hope to return for a chance at Olympic glory.

Jessica Fox makes her anticipated return to the World Championships stage after missing the home World Championships in Penrith last year.

“I’m just really happy to be here and happy to be on the start line for a World Champs after missing last year. It’s not been the easiest build-up to these Worlds with a few niggles but I’m happy to be here and that joy for paddling counts for a lot.

“I’m finally getting this good feel on this course. We’ve been here for a few weeks preparing and getting used to the heat which is a big factor here. I’m ready to go.”

Fox has come back to the international circuit in style, winning four medals across the first three World Cups of the season. Fox said she always finds a lot of confidence from racing and is very grateful to have started the season so well.

“I think the start of the season, being back at the World Cups – despite this wrist injury, despite not a perfect preparation – I think I got a lot of confidence just from racing again and being back on the start line and feeling the nerves.

“For me, the win was being on the start line. The win was making it to a final and then to actually win a medal and then win a World Cup again was amazing.

“When you have so much time out from an injury, you never know what can happen. I think I didn’t know whether I would be back on a podium again,” she said.

Noemie Fox will also be racing a full program of canoe, kayak and kayak cross for the ICF Slalom World Championships. She said with the preparation in hard conditions and on a tough course, she’s ready to take confidence from the last two weeks and leave it all out on the rapids.

“I have tactics in play and have to keep it light and fresh. It’s an extremely long program and I do think Oklahoma is survival of the fittest mentally and not just physically.”

With the beginning of Olympic qualification for LA 2028, she said the occasion has given her time to reflect on how she’s progressed as an athlete.

“It’s hit me that it’s go time again and it’s made me reflect a lot of how much I’ve changed since two years pre-Paris and I’m feeling super grateful for how I’ve evolved as an athlete.

“I just want to trust that I’m a stronger athlete and use that experience as well,” she said.

Medals will be awarded every day of competition in OKC across the kayak, canoe and kayak cross disciplines.

For Australian sporting fans, day one will begin from 12:30am AEST Tuesday 21 July. Live action and race replays will be on the Planet Canoe YouTube Channel. Find the schedule and results here.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE

DAY 1: Monday 20 July, Kayak Cross Time Trials

DAY 2: Tuesday 21 July, Kayak Heats & Kayak Teams Final

DAY 3: Wednesday 22 July, Canoe Heats & Canoe Teams Final

DAY 4: Thursday 23 July, Kayak Semi & Finals

DAY 5: Friday 24 July, Canoe Semi & Finals

DAY 6: Saturday 25 July, Kayak Cross Finals

AUSTRALIAN CANOE SLALOM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Tim Anderson (NSW) – Men’s Kayak and Kayak Cross (NSWIS)

Kaylen Bassett (NSW) – Men’s Canoe (NSWIS)

Lachlan Bassett (NSW) – Men’s Canoe

Tristan Carter (VIC) – Men’s Canoe