Oklahoma City’s 2028 Olympic canoe slalom course saw Britain’s Joe Clarke claim his first gold in the kayak cross, finishing 46.54 seconds ahead of the closest competitor. After struggling with a stiff neck and a disastrous run the day before, Clarke flipped the script in a matter of hours.
Clarke’s win adds another world title to his seven across all events. He previously earned silver in the same discipline at last year’s World Championships in Penrith. His 46.54-second time left no room for doubt, even with the course already testing its Olympic credentials.
GB’s Men Dominate Team Final
Team GB’s Adam Burgess, Ryan Westley, and Peter Linksted completed a flawless run in 93.18 seconds in the men’s team final, pushing France into second place after a two-second time penalty at the last gate. France had finished second in the same event in the past two World Championships.
Burgess, who had never before stood on top of the World Championships podium in this event, called the win a surreal moment. 'We're super chuffed to finally get to call ourselves world champions for the first time,' he said. The British trio’s consistency over three years culminated in a gold that France couldn’t match under pressure.
Lois Leaver, 24, finished 0.12 seconds behind the gold medalist in 51.17 seconds to claim her first senior-level World Championship medal in kayak cross. It’s the closest she’s come to the top step and the best result of her career.
Britain’s women’s team of Kimberley Woods, Mallory Franklin, and Ellis Miller finished fourth in 105.81 seconds, missing the podium by a narrow margin. While the men’s team made history, the women’s trio will aim to cut the gap in future world and Olympic competitions.