Curtis McGrath and Tom Green’s double gold victories completes an eight-medal haul for the Australian Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe team at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe World Cup in Brandenburg, Germany. 

On his golden return to international racing, four-time Paralympic champion Curtis McGrath came from behind to claim the gold medal in the KL2 Men’s 200m final.

With his opponents off to a flying start, McGrath dug deep to stage a thrilling comeback in Brandenburg to win in 44.98.

“It’s been an emotional day as I lost a friend so this one means a bit more,” said McGrath. 

“There is a bit of work to do but it’s nice to be here and paddling on a new course. It’s great to see everyone again.” 

After two bronze medals for the weekend, Olympic dual medalist Tom Green claimed gold in the K1 Men’s 500m final, a race won last weekend at the World Cup in Hungary by teammate Jean van der Westhuyzen. 

Green produced a commanding performance in Sunday’s finals, underlining Australia’s strength in the men’s canoe sprint program as the team continues to build momentum towards this year’s World Championships and the road to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

“The conditions were a lot better than they were yesterday, so it was a plus. I’m pretty stoked with the win,” Green said.

“The team is looking really good. We know we have good speed and endurance and we have really good adaptability. 

“I think Australia is in a good spot. We can’t rest on that – we are going to go back home, reinvent ourselves and fight even harder.”

Australia also celebrated a strong silver medal performance from New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders Natalia Drobot and Kailey Harlen in the K2 Women’s 500m final, continuing the team’s impressive performance across the week.

“It was pretty tricky out there, the headwind made the race quite long,” Drobot said. 

“It was nice to sit behind Kailey and feel her rhythm, and just send it, send it all the way to the finish line. We gritted our teeth and we worked hard.”

Harlen was also stoked with the result. 

“Coming into this competition, everything was new for us. Coming away with a medal is something very special,” Harlen said. 

The van der Westhuyzen brothers delivered one of the highlights of the regatta, standing on the World Cup podium together after combining for bronze in the K2 Men’s 500m final.

For dual Olympic medalist Jean van der Westhuyzen, sharing the moment with his younger brother made the medal even more meaningful.

“It was pretty special racing with my brother,” he said. 

“Who would have thought we would ever be in this position. It’s very, very special.

“There is a massive fire under our bellies now to go back home and take our training to another level, go to the next World Cup and have better performances. Ultimately the World Championships is where we really want to be firing.”

Pierre van der Westhuyzen said the podium finish capped a memorable weekend for the pair.

“We were both pretty buggered, we both worked really hard and it was super special to be out there,” he said. 

“To be able to step on the podium is one of the coolest things we’ve been able to do together. We’re super stoked and wrap up a good weekend.”

Australia’s performances across the ICF Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe World Cup in Germany improves on a promising start to the new Olympic and Paralympic cycle. With 12 medals won across the opening two World Cups of the 2026 season, the Australian Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe team continue an electric run towards the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The team will now shift their focus to the final World Cup in Montreal in July ahead of the World Championships in August. 

Results:

Gold

  • Ben Sainsbury, VL1 Men’s 200m
  • Curtis McGrath, KL2 Men’s 200m
  • Thomas Green, K1 Men’s 500m 

Silver

  • Ella Beere, K1 Women’s 1000m (NSWIS)
  • Natalia Drobot / Kailey Harlen, K2 Women’s 500m (NSWIS)

Bronze

  • Jean van der Westhuyzen / Pierre van der Westhuyzen / Tom Green / Jackson Collins, K4 Men’s 500m
  • Tom Green, K1 Men’s 1000m
  • Jean van der Westhuyzen / Pierre van der Westhuyzen, K2 Men’s 500m 
Tags Ella BeereKailey HarlenNatalia Drobot

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