The 2026 ICF Para Canoe World Cup kicks off in Brandenburg, Germany, on 14 May, marking the official start of the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic qualification cycle.
The World Cup marks the opening international campaign of the season for Australia’s Para canoe squad, with both experienced Paralympians and emerging athletes beginning their push towards LA2028.
For Australian paddler Amy Ralph, the event represents the first major benchmark of a rapidly accelerating career, and a chance to see how her training and technical adjustments translate under international pressure.
For years, Ralph’s relationship with water had been tethered to the black line at the bottom of a swimming pool: repetition, discipline, and the pursuit of marginal gains, lap after lap.
Para canoe entered her life far more casually.
After months of encouragement from Paralympian Kathleen O’Kelly Kennedy, Ralph eventually joined Western Australia’s Para canoe group for a trial session, stepping into a K1 with little expectation beyond trying something new.
“My friend Kat had asked me to come down quite a few times before I finally did, so I’m glad she kept asking,” Ralph said. “My first paddle was in a K1 and from the first session, I loved how challenging it was. There was something special about being on the water, moving fast and having so much to learn that made me want to keep coming back.”
What began as curiosity quickly gathered pace and within months, Ralph progressed into the Australian team, with years in the pool providing a strong foundation for the transition.
“Swimming gave me a good base coming into Para canoe,” she said. “It helped me build a strong engine, but also discipline, resilience, and how to stick with something over time.”
“Mentally, I’ve always loved sport, so that mindset made it easier to throw myself into a new challenge.”
Western Australian Institute of Sport’s (WAIS’s) Head Coach for Canoeing, Ramon Andersson, said Ralph adapted unusually quickly to the sport.
“She picked up paddling incredibly quickly,” he said. “Swimming would have been a significant factor – the training carries over, and being able to ‘feel’ the water is a big part of it.”
In the lead up to Paris 2024, Ralph narrowly missed Paralympic selection, an experience that became a learning point in her progression rather than a setback.
“Missing Paris was obviously disappointing at the time,” she said. “But looking back, it gave me a lot of belief and perspective. It showed me I was already within reach of something I had always dreamed about.”
Andersson added: “It took a couple of months to work through, but she came back strong,” he said. “It showed real resilience – she can bounce back from adversity.”
Ralph competes in the KL3 and VL3 classifications and has recently relocated to the Gold Coast to train with Paddle Australia’s National Centre of Excellence as she builds towards LA 2028.
Born with a congenital above-knee limb difference, she uses an individually designed prosthetic in the boat that enables her to generate leg drive – a key component in KL3 racing, where performance relies on the coordinated transfer of power through the legs, trunk and upper body.
It is a technical system she has adapted to quickly, with her swimming background again proving transferable in building strength, rhythm and endurance through the upper body and core.
Ralph has travelled to Europe to prepare for the World Cup in Brandenburg, which will provide the first significant indication of where she sits internationally in the new cycle. Brandenburg will also present a new racing environment for several Australian athletes competing at the venue for the first time.
“We’ve made quite a few technical changes,” she added. “For me, it’s about seeing where I sit and continuing to build under pressure.”
Andersson is clear on what success looks like for the Australian paddler this week.
“Making the A final would be a strong result,” he said.
The World Championships later in the season will provide a further benchmark as she continues to establish herself within the international field.
When asked if she is now all in on a Paralympic campaign, her answer is simple:
“Yeah, I am. I’m really enjoying this cycle, and I’m committed to seeing how far I can take it.”
Beyond racing, Ralph continues to contribute to the wider sporting system, working within Swimming WA while serving on the board of Paddle WA, maintaining a perspective shaped by both performance and participation pathways.
The ICF Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe World Cup will be held in Brandenburg, Germany from 14-17 May.
Australian Para Canoe Team
Men
Mark Daniels (WA) – MVL3 200
Curtis McGrath (QLD) – MKL2 200
Ben Sainsbury (WA) – MKL1 200, MVL1 200
Women
Emily Paix (SA) – WVL3 200, WKL3 200
Amy Ralph (WA) – WVL3 200
Susanna Wills (QLD) – WVL2 200, WKL2 200
By Ashley Gillespie, Paralympics Australia.
Published 14 May, 2026.
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