The American Canoe Association (ACA) is proud to announce a generous $32,000 gift from the Indianapolis Canoe Racing Council (ICRC) to establish the ACA Sprint Athletes Fund, a new initiative designed to support U.S. sprint and paracanoe athletes as they train and compete on the path toward the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and beyond.
For decades, the Indianapolis Canoe Racing Council was one of the most active canoe and kayak clubs in the United States, hosting numerous major events and helping grow the sport of sprint paddling nationwide. As membership has declined in recent years, the club’s leadership made the decision to honor its legacy by investing directly in the next generation of athletes.
“It makes me extremely happy to be part of the establishment of the Sprint Athletes Fund. Hopefully it will provide more and better training opportunities for our athletes. The Indianapolis Canoe Racing Council should be thanked for their generous donation as well as all their past efforts in promoting the sport.” — Steve Kelly, President ICRC and ACA Special Projects Coordinator.
The newly established Sprint Athletes Fund will provide training grants to U.S. sprint and paracanoe athletes who reach the A Final at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in an Olympic event during non-Olympic years. Eligible athletes will receive a $2,500 training grant early the following year to support their preparation and continued development.
The program will begin distributing grants in 2026 based on 2025 World Championship results, continuing through the current Olympic cycle leading into Los Angeles. In 2028, the fund will also support athletes representing the United States at the Olympic Games. Hopefully, the fund will continue for future generations as long as the fund exists.
Andreea Ghizila and Audrey Harper are the first recipients of training grants because of the exceptional performance at the 2025 Canoe Sprint World Championships.
“We are so grateful for this generous grant from the ICRC. This will make it possible for us to purchase a new C2! Our current boat is a very outdated model and probably older than Audrey. Up until now, we’ve been limited by our equipment, and this grant will change that. Being able to train in a modern boat just like the ones we race overseas will help take us to the next level.
We can’t work normal jobs while training full time and travelling to 6+ regattas a year, so grants like these allow us to focus on becoming the best athletes that we can be with a little less financial stress. Thank you ICRC!!” — Andreea Ghizila and Audrey Harper
ICRC leaders hope this initial investment will inspire others within the paddling community to help grow the fund and make it sustainable.
The ACA invites clubs, alumni, former competitors, and supporters of paddlesports to help continue the momentum by contributing to the Sprint Athletes Fund. Donations will directly support athlete training and development, strengthening the future of competitive sprint paddling in the United States.
“We are very grateful to the Indiana Canoe Racing Council for this generous gift to establish the Sprint Athletes Fund. We hope that other organizations and individuals will be inspired to supplement ICRC’s seed funding so that our Sprint athletes receive training support in perpetuity.” — Beth Spilman, ACA Executive Director
To contribute to the ACA Sprint Athletes Fund, donate to the Competition Fund and dedicate the gift to the Sprint Athlete Fund.
About the American Canoe Association
The American Canoe Association was founded in 1880 and is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as the national governing body for paddlesports in the United States. The ACA supports the broader paddling public by providing educational programs, supporting stewardship initiatives that affect paddlers, and offering competition opportunities to athletes of all abilities.
