Natalia Drobot won Australia’s first international gold medal of the season by taking out the K1 Women’s 500m final, as Australia claimed three medals at the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged, Hungary. 

Drobot, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder, flew from the start gates to lead the entire K1 Women’s 500m final, holding off New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher to seal the victory. 

Last year, Drobot claimed the bronze medal in the same race at the same venue. This gold medal-winning performance has shown her intent for the 2026 season.

“It was really nice to start the World Cup off really strong. It was nice to be able to put down a good race. I finished that race and I just had fun and that was the main goal.” she said.

“It’s such a great Australian team to be a part of and I’m so proud to be representing Australia.”

Starting from lane eight, Drobot executed her game plan brilliantly and put down a fast time in nice conditions. 

“I was just kind of thinking ‘free and light’, and that was all I was thinking – just let it run and have fun. That was down to doing what I knew I could do and let the body to the work,” she said.

The Men’s K4 team – Jackson Collins, Riley Fitzsimmons (NSWIS), Pierre van der Westhuyzen and Jean van der Westhuyzen – won Australia’s first medal of the day. They were pipped by the hosts by 0.32 seconds in a fast final to claim the silver medal. 

Three members of the crew took a break from international racing in 2025, including Jackson Collins, who said it felt great to be back on the world stage after a year off.

“To be back and racing in quality like that, those K4 races are so tight now – from first to sixth all well under a second. It’s such tight racing now,” Collins said. 

“To be able to come back and in our first final at our first international regatta as a crew and be on the podium is really exciting.”

Pierre van der Westhuyzen said the team has been focused on making their training harder than racing and putting the preparations into action has been rewarding.

“It’s always just an awesome opportunity to freshen up and come and test the training and just show what we’re capable of out there. Really happy with how it’s unfolded so far this weekend and keen to go again next weekend,” he said.

In Australia’s final medal chance for the day, Tom Green secured the bronze medal in the K1 Men’s 1000m Final. He went toe-to-toe with two of the biggest names at the distance, Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta and Hungary’s Balint Kopasz.

With less than 0.70 seconds splitting the three paddlers, Green said it was great to see the three of them back on the water battling for the top of the podium. 

“Even at World Championships last year, it was us three going tit for tat to the finish line. I guess we’ve picked up where we left off,” he said.

“It’s exciting now. I think all three of us are going to have learn how to push ourselves a bit more.”

Green backed up his medal-winning performance with the K2 Men’s heat race with teammate Noah Havard, where they finished second and qualified to tomorrow’s semi final.

One day of racing remains at the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup. For the schedule and results, click here.

Live racing gets underway from 5pm AEST, watch live on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. 

Paddle Australia

Paddle Australia Photography