Paddle Australia Selects 2026 Para Canoe World Cup Squad 

Paddle Australia is proud to announce the seven Para canoe athletes set to represent Australia throughout the 2026 World Cup season. 

Off the back of racing at the 2026 Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint National Championships, this selection of athletes will race against the world’s best Para canoe sprinters in two World Cup events. 

The Para canoe team will join the Australian Canoe Sprint squad for the ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup in Brandenburg, Germany from 14-27 May 2026. This event marks the start of the two-year Paralympic qualification process for LA2028 for the Australia Para canoe athletes. 

From 9-12 July 2026, a small selected team will also compete at the ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup in Montreal, Canada. 

National Performance Director Brendan Purcell said: “We’re extremely pleased to confirm the seven athletes selected for the 2026 Australian Para canoe World Cup squad. We look forward to the performances of this talented squad on the world stage against their fiercest rivals.

“We have a very strong squad that includes our two medalists from the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Championships, Ben Sainsbury (silver) and Dylan Littlehales (bronze). We also welcome the return of four-time Paralympic gold medalist Curtis McGrath from his 12-month break from the sport.

“Following the World Cup in Germany, we will confirm the team to don the green and gold at the World Championships in Poland in August,” Purcell said.

“Congratulations to the athletes on their selection.”

2026 Australian Para Canoe World Cup Squad

Ben Sainsbury (WA) – KL1 and VL1

Curtis McGrath (QLD) – KL2

Susanna Wills (QLD) – KL2 and VL2

Dylan Littlehales (NSWIS) – KL3

Amy Ralph (WA) – KL3 and VL3

Emily Paix (SA) – KL3 and VL3

Mark Daniels (WA) – VL3