- Great Britain's top canoe slalom athletes are set to battle it out on home waters as they race to qualify nation spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as the coveted world titles at Lee Valley White Water Centre.
- Competing between 19-24 September, the 12 Brits will race amongst 300 athletes from over 50 nations, battling it out across a week of high octane competition at the London 2012 Olympic venue.
Rio 2016 Olympic Champion and reigning kayak cross World Champion Joe Clarke MBE headlines the team as he comes into the 2023 World Championships in incredible form. Racing in both the men's K1 and Kayak Cross, Joe has multiple medals so far this year, including gold at the World Cup in Slovenia.
Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mallory Franklin, who won her maiden Olympic medal with silver in the inaugural C1 women's event, has continued her good form.
The 29-year-old has three medals from three races this season, and will be looking to make her mark again on her home course.
Fellow Tokyo Olympian Kimberley Woods has been making a real name for herself in kayak cross in recent years. Having won silver at the 2022 World Championships, Kimberley won the World Cup title in Prague.
That form continued into the second half of the season after winning bronze in the women's C1 at the World Cup in La Seu alongside silver in the kayak cross.
Both Kimberley and Mallory are a triple threat this September, racing women's C1, K1 and Kayak Cross.
Ryan Westley made a big statement at the European Games in Krakow this June, winning gold in the men's C1 to regain his title from 2018. Coming back from a significant shoulder injury that kept him out for a number of years, Ryan is back to his best form and ready to show what he can do on his home course.
Finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, Adam Burgess will go head to head with Ryan in the men's C1 this September. Winning bronze at the Krakow World Cup last year, Adam has been consistently fighting for medals again this year.
Chris Bowers won his first senior World Cup gold last season in Krakow as he races the men's K1 and Kayak Cross, alongside senior team debutant Jonny Dickson. Jonny has made a real impact in the U23 events, winning three consecutive world medals, and reached his first senior final in Prague this year.
Phoebe Spicer (Women's K1) and James Kettle (Men's C1) will both race their first senior World Championships this September. Living on the doorstep of the venue, the pair got involved in the sport following the London 2012 legacy from Lee Valley White Water Centre, as a result of the Olympic Games.
A late entrant to the event, home paddler Ellis Miller will complete the women's C1 line-up after Sophie Ogilvie pulled out the event , whilst two-time U23 World Champion Nikita Setchell will represent Great Britain solely in the kayak cross.
Completing the line-up is Etienne Chappell, who became U23 world silver medallist in the event last season, and also has form on the Lee Valley course, winning gold the last time the venue hosted a major international in 2019.
Slalom Performance Director, Mark Ratcliffe said:
“We as a team are really looking forward to these World Championships at Lee Valley. It’s been a steady build up this last week and a half with all the teams arriving and you feel that atmosphere building and the energy around the place.
“It’s amazing to have the world's best coming to us at our home venue. It's now for us to try and perform to our best on home turf.
“It’s not every day you get to race a home World Championships. I said that in our team meeting the other day, they don’t come around very often. There's been four in the last 40 years.
“They're quite unique experiences, and if you can get that experience in front of your home crowd, you’ll remember it always.
“The home crowd is a big advantage. It’s an energy and something you can’t really put your finger on, but those that have experienced it, helps you rise to the occasion. I’m sure they’ll feel that positivity as they’re preparing to start.
“It’s obviously an important race on the route to Paris. Olympic quota places are at stake. It’s our job to focus on individual performances at the end of the day and let that take care of itself. If we do our job, I’m sure the team will do what’s required there.
“We’ve got amazing partners like The National Lottery and UK Sport. It wouldn’t be possible without any of that. It’s a massive effort going on behind the scenes, from the organisation committee, British Canoeing and the incredible volunteers to put the event on. So I must thank everybody.”