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Aussie team named for Canoe sprint world championships

Paddle Australia (PA) is pleased to confirm the Australian team that will compete at the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships.

Set to be held in Milan, Italy from 20-24 August, Paddle Australia has selected a 10-strong squad to don the green and gold.

Following gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2025 ICF Sprint World Cups, New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship athlete Natalia Drobot will line up for Australia at the World Championships.

Olympic gold and bronze medalist Tom Green, and Paris Olympic silver medalist Pierre van der Westhuyzen are also part of the team selected.

“I am looking forward to racing at the World Championships later this year, especially off the back of the 2 successful World Cups,” Drobot said.

“It’s exciting to have another opportunity to race against the best in the world and showcase the hard work that has been put in throughout the year.

“I am really looking forward to racing on the Milan course for the first time and continuing to refine our processes as a team and individuals.”

Drobot will be joined on the team by fellow NSWIS athlete Kailey Harlen [pictured with Drobot after they won gold for the Women’s K2 500 final at last month’s World Cup in Poznan, Poland], while Dylan Littlehales – who silver at last year’s Paralympics Games in Paris – will help spearhead Australia’s Paracanoe Sprint Team.

PA National Performance Director Brendan Purcell said: “After a strong start to the international season, we’re excited to announce our squad for the World Championships in Milan.

“This team brings together a great mix of youth and experience, with Claudia Bailey set to make her senior World Championships debut.

“On behalf of Paddle Australia, I’d like to congratulate all the athletes on their selection, and I look forward to seeing what they can produce on the world stage in Milan,” he said.

2025 Australian Canoe Sprint Team:

Claudia Bailey (QLD)

Aly Bull (QLD)*

Ally Clarke (QLD)

Natalia Drobot (NSWIS)

Tom Green (QLD)

Kailey Harlen (NSWIS)

Pierre van der Westhuyzen (QLD)

2025 Australian Paracanoe Sprint Team:

Dylan Littlehales (NSWIS)

Amy Ralph (WA)

Ben Sainsbury (WA)