Road To LA28 Begins as Para Canoe Joins Olympic Qualification Hunt

The road to the LA2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will go to a new level at the ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup in Brandenburg, Germany this weekend, with Australia’s Para Canoe team joining the Canoe Sprint on the international circuit. 

The ICF World Cups this season mark the official start of the qualification period towards LA 2028, with last weekend’s World Cup featuring the Olympic canoe sprint disciplines, and this weekend to feature both Olympic and Paralympic events.

Following Australia’s four-medal strong opening World Cup campaign in Hungary last weekend, that included gold medals for Olympian Jean Van der Westhuyzen and Olympic hopeful Natalia Drobot as well as silver in the men’s K4 and bronze to dual Olympian Tom Green, the Aussies are looking to build on that momentum.

Curtis McGrath, four time Paralympic gold medalist, eagerly makes his return to international racing for the first time since the Paris Games. He’ll join Australia’s Para Canoe team as part of their opening World Cup for the season and is looking forward to seeing new faces amongst the squad. 

“It’s going to be good. We’ve got a few new faces on the team, so it’s going to be good to see how we go,” McGrath said.

“It’s great to see the Para canoe program growing and developing.

“It’s nice to be back in the squad, obviously looking forward to a few more competitions and getting over there to see where we’re at.”

The Brandenburg World Cup will also present a new challenge for many of the Australian athletes, with several racing at the venue for the first time.

“It’s going to be a new place. I think only a few people have been there before,” McGrath said.

“It should be good to paddle somewhere new and experience something different, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Off the back of a gold-medal winning performance in the opening World Cup of the season, Natalia Drobot, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder said the team was equally excited by the opportunity to race in new environments throughout the World Cup season.

“I’m looking forward to racing at the World Cups, and I think it’s going to be a great tour, and it has been a great season so far for us girls, and I think for the Australian team in general,” Drobot said.

“I’m looking forward to being able to paddle my heart out at a few different venues this year.

“I’m looking forward to racing across K1, K2 and K4. I love the team boats and love being able to just put it all out there and not having to think as much and just work hard. It’ll be fun and I think it’s a great experience.”

Drobot also highlighted the importance of the 2026 season in laying the foundations for LA2028.

“I think it’s really important. It’s such a big stepping stone for all the teams,” she said.

“Especially for us girls, it’s about getting into new boats and new combinations, but also making sure we find our groove and become confident in our abilities.

The ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup will be held in Brandenburg, Germany from 14-17 May.

For the upcoming schedule for the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup, click here.

Australian Para Canoe Team

Men

Mark Daniels (WA) – MVL3 200

Curtis McGrath (QLD) – MKL2 200

Ben Sainsbury (WA) – MKL1 200, MVL1 200

Women

Emily Paix (SA) – WVL3 200, WKL3 200

Amy Ralph (WA) – WVL3 200

Susanna Wills (QLD) – WVL2 200, WKL2 200

Australian Canoe Sprint Team

Men

Jackson Collins (QLD) –  MK1 500, MK4 500

Luke Egger (WA) – MK1 200

Riley Fitzsimmons (NSWIS) – MK2 500

Tom Green (QLD) – MK1 500, MK1 1000, MK4 500

Noah Havard (QLD) –  MK2 500, MK4 500

Maguire Reid (SA) – MK1 1000

Jean Van der Westhuyzen (QLD) – MK2 500, MK4 500

Pierre Van der Westhuyzen (QLD) – MK2 500

Women

Alyssa Bailey (QLD) – WK1 1000, WK1 200

Claudia Bailey (QLD) – WK2 500, WK4 500

Ella Beere (NSWIS) – WK1 1000, WK1 500, WK1 200

Josephine Bulmer (SA) – WC1 200, WC2 500

Olivia Clues (NSWIS) – WK2 500, WK4 500

Natalia Drobot (NSWIS) – WK1 500, WK2 500, WK4 500

Kailey Harlen (NSWIS) – WK2 500, WK4 500

Emily McMullen (SA) – C1 200, C2 500