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Green and Drobot retain Grand Prix II titles

Paddle Australia

Olympic gold and bronze medallist Tom Green, and 2025 World Championships two-time silver medallist Natalia Drobot (pictured above) have retained their Grand Prix II K1 500 titles with dominant victories at Sydney International Regatta Centre.

Both Drobot, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder and Green won the event in 2025. Their efforts to back it up again today added another title to their growing list of accolades.

While conditions in Penrith today were glassy, Green said the racing was as hard as ever.

“It was a tough race, it was a fast race and I think all the boys are in such good shape at the moment,” Green said. “Also having Jacob (Schopf) over here at the moment has been really good.”

Last year, Green decided to keep training and racing while some of his Paris Olympic team mates enjoyed a break, but having them back is a new motivation that he is enjoying.

“It’s been good having all the boys come back from a season off last year,” he said. “It’s been a big change (for me) since last year. “I had a lot of time to myself (last year) which allowed me to develop quite well in other areas.

“Now, having them back, it’s all about me trying to solidify what I’ve learnt over this next period with them.”.

Looking ahead, and with his position on the senior Australian team all but rubber stamped, Green said it’s shaping up to be a big 12 months.

“It’s a big 2026 coming up,” he said. “At the moment I’m just trying to paddle my absolute best and K1 went well last year, that’s something that I keep wanting to develop, and see what I can do.

“While getting second (places) is great, I don’t train to get the same result. I want to go there (World Championships) and win.”

Green also teamed up with three-time Olympian and silver medalist Riley Fitzsimmons (NSWIS) to take out the men’s K2 500 by 0.09 seconds ahead of Jackson Collins/Jean van der Westhuyzen.

“Riley and I have paddled alongside each other since 2018; we’ve paddled a couple of K4s together but nothing serious and nothing more than a few weeks,” he said.

“It’s been really good just paddling with him – we’ve spent so much time beside each other and now is the opportunity to enjoy paddling together.

“It’s special, we’ve shared so much together . . . the ups and the downs, and a long career, so it’s super special.”

Drobot returned to her winning ways, the first time back on the start line since her decorated 2025.

Last season, Drobot was crowned the Paddle Australia Paddler of the Year after winning medals at ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups, World Championships and U23 World Championships.

Today’s victory was the start of what Drobot is hoping will be another positive season for her, all while striving for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

“I’m feeling really good, it’s been nice to put some good races down. It’s nice after a big training block to be able to come and race well,” Drobot said.

“We spend hours and hours on the water training and it’s just so nice to be able to come and race and do what we love.

“2026 I’m hoping brings a lot more podium results, but also the fun energy that we had last year.

“We want to keep that going while elevating our standards as a group and putting our best races forward on the international stage.”

PENRITH OPEN DAY 2 RESULTS

Women’s K1

1st – Klaudia Zwolinska (POL)

2nd – Zuzana Pankova (SVK)

3rd – Eva Alina Hocevar (SLO)

Men’s K1

1st – Yuuki Tanaka (JPN)

2nd – Lucien Delfour (AUS)

3rd – Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO)