SUPPORT OUR PARA ATHLETES IN GLASGOW
Buy Your Green and Gold Seat
Ben Sainsbury will head to next month’s World Championships brimming with confidence after claiming his second World Cup gold medal of the season at the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe World Cup in Montreal, Canada.
The reigning world champion showcased his class in the Men’s VL1 200m final, crossing the line in 1:03.97 to finish comfortably ahead of Canada’s Benjamin Brown and India’s Yash Kumar.
The victory follows Sainsbury’s triumph in Brandenburg earlier this year, giving the Australian two World Cup gold medals from the 2026 campaign and reinforcing his credentials ahead of next month’s World Championships.
“That was a solid win,” Sainsbury said.
“We changed a few things since Brandenburg after getting the win there, so I feel like I executed a really good race with what we changed and I’m excited to see what we can do at World Champs now.”
Sainsbury also returned to the water on the final day of competition to contest the Men’s KL1 200m final, finishing seventh against another quality international field.
Away from the competition, Sainsbury also embraced the unique setting of the Montreal regatta course, which sits alongside the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
“It’s really good being over in Canada. I’m a big F1 fan, so it’s pretty cool being next to the track,” he said.
Paralympic silver medallist Dylan Littlehales also made his first World Cup appearance of the 2026 season, finishing fifth in the Men’s KL3 200m final.
I feel like I executed a really good race with what we changed and I’m excited to see what we can do at World Champs now.
The performances conclude Australia’s Para canoe World Cup campaign, with Sainsbury’s victories in Brandenburg and Montreal providing the team’s two gold medals across the 2026 series.
The Australian Para canoe team now turn their attention to the ICF Canoe Sprint and Para canoe World Championships in Poznan, Poland, from 26 – 30 August.
Buy Your Green and Gold Seat
"*" indicates required fields
