Russell Matches Career-Best World Championship Result
The penultimate day of the 2026 Paddle Worldwide Canoe Marathon World Championships produced another strong set of performances for the British team, led by James Russell’s sixth-place finish in the Senior Men’s K1 and a top-ten result for European Junior Champion Will Roeser.
The final race of the day was one of the most anticipated of the entire championships, with a packed crowd creating an electric atmosphere around the course as the world’s best marathon paddlers lined up for the Senior Men’s K1 title. James Russell (Chelmsford Canoe Club) was immediately forced to work hard after the start to secure a strong wash position but soon settled onto the second V-wash behind the race leader. Shortly after the opening turn, Denmark’s Pedersen moved to the front and dramatically increased the pace, causing the lead group to begin splintering.
Russell initially lost contact with the leaders before helping form a four-boat chase group sitting around 50 metres behind the front pack. While the leaders surged and slowed repeatedly, the chase group maintained a more consistent pace and gradually closed the gap, successfully rejoining the front group before the first portage. A strong second portage kept Russell firmly in medal contention, but another increase in pace eventually proved decisive. Alongside South Africa’s Lovemore, Russell was forced into a battle for the remaining positions alongside Norway’s Vold and Spain’s Prada.
As the race entered its closing stages, Russell produced one final effort approaching the last top turn, breaking apart the chase group and placing himself in the ideal position for the sprint finish. He successfully defended sixth place from late challenges by both Vold and Prada, securing sixth in the world for the second consecutive year and finishing just three minutes behind the winner. The race itself was a spectacle from start to finish, with Pedersen ultimately claiming a fifth consecutive world title.
Earlier in the day, Will Roeser (Wey Kayak Club) lined up in a highly competitive K1 Junior Men’s field featuring 34 athletes, including defending world champion Sean Butterly of Ireland. The European Champion made a strong start from a favourable draw on the left side of the start line and quickly established himself within the lead group. An early navigation error by the race leader briefly complicated matters, but Roeser reacted quickly to take the correct route around the navigation buoy before working his way back into contention. An exceptionally well-executed first turn saw Roeser emerge in an even stronger wash position than he entered, leaving him firmly established amongst the leading boats.
As in 2025, AIN athlete Nekrasov took control of the race and steadily increased the pace at the front. The sustained pressure gradually reduced the size of the lead group, with Roeser battling hard to maintain contact. The chaotic opening portage, where multiple penalties were issued, proved a pivotal moment. Although Roeser fought hard to bridge back across to the leaders, successive accelerations from the front group made the task increasingly difficult. With the medals moving out of reach, he switched his focus to securing a strong championship result, eventually crossing the line eighth in a time of 1:37:57 to record another World Championship top-ten finish.
The Senior Women’s K1 saw both Katie Brookes (Richmond Canoe Club) and newly crowned double junior World Champion Dianora De Bilio (Royal Canoe Club) take on the challenge of racing against the world’s best senior athletes over the long course distance. Less than 24 hours after claiming two junior world titles, De Bilio returned to the water to test herself at senior level. A strong start saw her establish herself on the back of the lead group during the opening stages, but after an intense championship programme the accumulated fatigue gradually began to show. As the relentless pace took effect, De Bilio settled into a chase group and continued to battle strongly against athletes with considerably more senior international experience. She eventually crossed the line seventeenth in 2:13:10, gaining valuable experience at senior level as a junior.
Brookes returned to racing after illness had disrupted her short course opportunity earlier in the week. Following a rest day, she produced an encouraging performance, making the back of the lead group during the opening lap and remaining in contention through the early stages. When Australia’s Mann increased the pace and fragmented the front group, Brookes found herself racing alongside Hungary’s Csepe and Spain’s Barrios in the chasing positions and she steadily moved through the race to secure fourteenth place overall in a time of 2:07:46.
With one day of racing remaining, Britain’s paddlers now turn their attention to the final races of the championships as they look to close out a successful week in Argentina on a high. Racing resumes with Beth Gill (Nottingham Kayak Club) contesting the C1 Senior Women long course, before the Senior Women and Senior Men K2 events bring the British programme to a close. Make sure you tune in to cheer on the team.
Full results are available via the Memosoft app. Follow our social media channels for behind-the-scenes content from Argentina, while all racing throughout the week will be streamed live via the Planet Canoe YouTube channel. Further viewing information can be found on our website post here.