Great Britain’s canoe slalom stars have delivered another superb international performance, winning six medals at the World Cup in Vaires-sur-Marne, with Joe Clarke claiming a magnificent double gold and Lois Leaver reaching the podium twice.
Britain’s paddlers have enjoyed a tremendous few days in France, racing to six medals at the Canoe Slalom World Cup and providing another encouraging sign of the strength of British paddle sport as the road towards Los Angeles 2028 gathers pace.
Joe Clarke MBE led an outstanding final day for Great Britain at Vaires-sur-Marne, the same course which hosted the canoe slalom and kayak cross events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Clarke won not one, but two gold medals, triumphing first in the men’s individual kayak cross time trial before returning to take victory in the kayak cross final.
Lois Leaver enjoyed a superb day of her own, winning gold in the women’s individual kayak cross time trial and then adding bronze in the kayak cross final.
Kimberley Woods secured another British bronze in the women’s individual event, while Ryan Westley had already put Great Britain on the podium with bronze in the men’s C1.
The final British tally was an impressive six medals, three gold and three bronze.
For Clarke, the final day was another demonstration of why the 33-year-old remains one of Britain’s outstanding competitors on the water.
Wearing the number one bib in the men’s individual kayak cross, he completed the course in 55.33 seconds, beating Spain’s Manuel Ochoa by 0.33 seconds.
Clarke then returned for the head-to-head kayak cross competition.
After winning his heat and quarter-final, he progressed through his semi-final and into the decisive race, where he produced a dramatic fightback to overcome Frenchman Joris Hello and secure his second gold medal of the day.
The result also gave Clarke a 40-point advantage in the overall World Cup standings heading into the World Cup Final at La Seu d’Urgell in Spain.
It was a formidable day’s work from one of British canoeing’s most decorated athletes.
And there was plenty for British supporters to celebrate in the women’s competition too.
Lois Leaver produced a brilliant individual run.
She had been 0.77 seconds behind at the first timing point, but instead of allowing the deficit to grow, the Briton accelerated through the remainder of the course, moved into the lead and stopped the clock at 60.38 seconds.
That put her 0.20 seconds ahead of France’s Marjorie Delassus.
Eleven competitors were still to come, but none managed to dislodge Leaver from the top of the standings.
The victory was her second World Cup gold and provided further evidence of her growing strength in kayak cross.
Leaver said she had put considerable work into the discipline throughout the year and was delighted to see that preparation coming together.
She was not finished.
Later in the women’s kayak cross competition, Leaver won her heat and quarter-final before fighting back from third place during her semi-final to reach the final.
A slower start in the medal race left her with ground to recover, but she battled back to claim bronze and her second medal of the day.
Britain had two women on the podium in the individual kayak cross time trial, with Olympic medallist Kimberley Woods joining Leaver among the medals.
Woods recorded 60.98 seconds to secure bronze, meaning two of the three places on that World Cup podium belonged to Great Britain.
It was another strong result for Woods, who has established herself as one of Britain’s leading canoe slalom and kayak cross competitors.
Ryan Westley provided Britain’s other medal of the meeting.
The 33-year-old earned his first World Cup podium of 2026 with bronze in the men’s C1, recording a time of 97.01 seconds in the final after qualifying ninth fastest.
His medal came against a strong international field on the French course and ensured Britain’s success was not confined to kayak cross.
There were encouraging performances elsewhere in the British squad too.
Sam Leaver finished fifth in the men’s individual kayak cross in 56.26 seconds, while Joe Clarke had earlier come agonisingly close to another medal in the men’s K1 slalom, finishing fourth.
Clarke’s K1 result came despite a two-second penalty at gate seven. He had been sitting in third with only one paddler remaining before Italy’s Giovanni De Gennaro produced the fastest performance of the final to take gold.
The performances matter for more than this week’s medal table.
Olympic Qualifying Ranking points for LA 2028 were on offer at Vaires-sur-Marne, giving the competition additional importance as nations begin building towards the next Olympic Games.
Tom Duggan, Performance Director of Canoe Slalom and Kayak, described it as “a really good World Cup” and said the French meeting and forthcoming World Cup Final were important in the Olympic qualification context.
He also praised the work British athletes and coaches have put into understanding and preparing for kayak cross.
And the results suggest that work is paying off.
The British team arrived in France already carrying considerable momentum after a successful World Championships in Oklahoma City earlier this summer.
Now, on the former Olympic waters of Vaires-sur-Marne, Britain’s paddlers have added another three international gold medals and six medals overall.
There is still a long way to travel before the Olympic flame is lit in Los Angeles in 2028, and international canoe slalom remains fiercely competitive.
But Britain is not starting that journey from the back of the field.
Its athletes are winning World Cup races, collecting medals across different disciplines and, crucially, delivering under pressure against some of the finest paddlers in the world.
Joe Clarke leaves France with two gold medals, Lois Leaver with gold and bronze, Kimberley Woods with bronze and Ryan Westley with bronze.
Six medals, three British victories and another highly encouraging weekend for Team GB.
From the rapids of France to the Olympic waters of Los Angeles, Britain’s paddlers are building momentum, and they are doing it in style.
Main Image: Jack Lions
