Britain’s best yet: A landmark year for canoe slalom

The 2025 international canoe slalom season was one of the most successful in British history, defined by remarkable consistency, progression, and record-breaking performances. The depth of British talent cannot be understated, with the team securing world titles, European gold, and a significant haul of World Cup medals.

World Championships
In Sydney, Britain’s athletes produced a series of world-class results. Joe Clarke MBE continued his reign as the undisputed king of kayak cross, claiming a fourth consecutive world title.

“It was a dream to come here to retain that title after getting silver in the Games last year,” said Clarke. Clarke also opened Britain’s medal tally with silver in the men’s kayak cross time trials.

Kimberley Woods was another standout performer, upgrading her Olympic bronze from Paris 2024 to World Championship K1 silver.

In the men’s C1, Ryan Westley returned to the individual world podium for the first time in seven years, delivering a technically superb final run to secure silver, his third career medal at the World Championships.

Britain’s strength in depth was further emphasised through the team events. Clarke, Ben

Haylett and Jonny Dickson claimed bronze in the men’s K1 team, while Adam Burgess, Westley and Luc Royle took silver in the men’s C1. The women’s C1 trio of Woods, Ellis Miller and Bethan Forrow completed the medal sweep with bronze. 

World Cup Series
The World Cup circuit proved equally successful, with the British senior squad collecting 29 medals over the season, including three overall titles.

Woods secured the overall women’s K1 and C1 crowns, plus kayak cross silver. Her campaign featured a first-ever K1 gold in Tacen and a superb K1 and C1 double victory at the World Cup Final in Augsburg, clinching both season titles. “To finish the season with both overall titles feels incredible,” she said. “It’s been a long, hard season, but one I’ll never forget.”

In Augsburg, the spotlight also fell on the Leaver siblings. Sam Leaver led a British one-two in the men’s kayak cross, taking gold ahead of teammate Jonny Dickson in a thrilling final, having earlier collected time trial silver on the same day.

Lois Leaver had a stunning debut season, winning bronze in the women’s kayak cross final and gold in the morning’s time trial. Overall, she secured six World Cup medals: three K1 bronzes, two kayak cross bronzes, and the Augsburg gold, finishing second overall in women’s K1 and third in kayak cross.

Her brother Sam was equally consistent, claiming three time-trial medals and rounding off the year with the top step in Germany for kayak cross and the overall time-trial title.
Dickson’s silver in Augsburg followed earlier kayak cross podiums in La Seu and time trial gold at the same venue, results that earned him the overall men’s kayak cross title.

Elsewhere, Burgess took C1 silver in La Seu and made history by winning gold in the first-ever C1 Short event in Prague, while Westley claimed a C1 victory in Pau.

Joe Clarke added kayak cross time trial gold in Augsburg, and Nikita Setchell also joined the medal ranks with kayak cross bronze in Tacen.

Following the birth of her baby last year, Bethan Forrow returned to the international women’s canoe circuit, achieving an overall ranking of 27th. Her teammate, Eliis Miller, finished just behind her, securing 28th place.

Rounding out the full 2025 squad, Ben Haylett secured 23rd place overall in men’s kayak, an event in which Jake Brown also competed during the first three World Cups, finishing 78th.

European Championships
At the European Championships, British paddlers continued to impress with four more medals.

Burgess, Westley and Royle combined for gold in the men’s C1 team, while Woods added two bronzes, one in the K1 individual and one in the K1 team alongside Lois Leaver and Nikita Setchell.

Sam Leaver also enjoyed a memorable senior European debut with bronze in kayak cross, adding another chapter to an extraordinary season for the young Brit.

Looking forward
From the Olympic medallists to the rising stars, 2025 was a year where every athlete contributed to Britain’s success story. The achievements across the squad reflected not only individual excellence but also a collective momentum that continues to build with each passing season.