Harlen and Drobot Win Gold in Women’s K2 500 Final

Australian sprint kayak duo and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders Kailey Harlen and Nat Drobot won gold in the Women’s K2 500 final at the 2025 ICF Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup in Poznan, Poland overnight. 

After dominant winning performances in their heat and semi final, the pair were able to finish the job overnight, with Poland and Hungary joining them on the podium in second and third respectively.

“We’re super stoked with how that went,” Harlen said. “We were finishing up with this race today and knew we only had one more and then it was home time. So we just gave it everything we had and I think we crossed the line absolutely exhausted, almost falling in, but we held it together and we’re super happy with how we executed that.”

“It’s pretty special for us, coming out of our domestic season, we don’t really know where we stack on the world stage and I think when we were able to come away with a third in the K4, we are just really stoked for how the girls group is pulling awesome results.”

“So it’s really exciting for the next few months and we’ve got some girls going to the U23’s and then heading into World Championships.” 

“It’s really nice to put together a good race, but then also come away with a win,” Drobot said.  “I think that’s the double edged sword and it’s the best part of it all.

“It’s so nice to be able to stand on the podium with Kailey and knowing that we’ve still got so much more to give and so much more to learn and I am looking forward to the next few years.”

Harlen and Drobot also claimed bronze as part of the Women’s K4 500m team earlier in the event.

The Australian Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe Team will now return back to Australia to prepare for the Junior and U23 World Championships in Portugal and Senior World Championships in Italy.  

Paddle Australia