Training has concludes, the opening ceremonies have commenced, and for canoe slalom athletes, the road to LA28 officially begins Monday. The 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships kick off July 20 at RIVERSPORT OKC, the same course that will host Olympic canoe slalom and kayak cross in 2028. More than 250 athletes from 50 nations will compete to earn Olympic Ranking points in the first opportunity to launch their bids for LA28.

Over the 6-day event, there will be 12 world titles on the line. The USA Canoe/Kayak Team hopes to make the most of their home water advantage by earning medals and LA28 qualification points.

2026 USA Slalom & Kayak Cross World Championships Team Roster

The American Canoe Association is proud to support the following athletes representing the USA Canoe/Kayak Team at the 2026 World Championships:

Women’s Kayak (WK1): Evy Leibfarth, Ria Sribar, Marcella Altman

Men’s Kayak (MK1): Michal Smolen, Kaelin Friedenson, Tyler Westfall

Women’s Canoe (WC1): Evy Leibfarth, Marcella Altman, Carden Oetting

Men’s Canoe (MC1): Casey Eichfeld, Bug Lokken, Nathaniel Francis

Women’s Kayak Cross (WKX1): Evy Leibfarth, Isabella Altman, Marcella Altman

Men’s Kayak Cross (MKX1): Kaelin Friedenson, Michal Smolen, Tyler Westfall

Racing Schedule

(all times Central / RIVERSPORT OKC local)

Monday, July 20

• 9:30 a.m. — Kayak Cross Time Trials
• 12:15 p.m. — Kayak Cross Individual Medal Ceremony

Tuesday, July 21

• 9:00 a.m. — Women’s Kayak Slalom, Heats
• 10:00 a.m. — Men’s Kayak Slalom, Heats
• 2:30 p.m. — Women’s Kayak Slalom, Team
• 3:00 p.m. — Men’s Kayak Slalom, Team
• 4:15 p.m. — Kayak Slalom Medal Ceremony

Wednesday, July 22

• 10:00 a.m. — Men’s Canoe Slalom, Heats
• 11:45 a.m. — Women’s Canoe Slalom, Heats
• 2:30 p.m. — Men’s Canoe Slalom, Team
• 3:10 p.m. — Women’s Canoe Slalom, Team
• 3:45 p.m. — Canoe Slalom Medal Ceremony

Thursday, July 23

• 10:00 a.m. — Women’s Kayak, Semifinal
• 11:00 a.m. — Men’s Kayak, Semifinal
• 2:00 p.m. — Women’s Kayak, Final
• 2:45 p.m. — Men’s Kayak, Final
• 3:30 p.m. — Kayak Slalom Medal Ceremony

Friday, July 24

• 10:00 a.m. — Men’s Canoe, Semifinal
• 11:00 a.m. — Women’s Canoe, Semifinal
• 2:00 p.m. — Men’s Canoe, Final
• 2:45 p.m. — Women’s Canoe, Final
• 3:30 p.m. — Canoe Slalom Medal Ceremony

Saturday, July 25

• 10:00 a.m. — Men’s & Women’s Kayak Cross, Repechage
• 1:30 p.m. — Women’s Kayak Cross, Heats
• 2:00 p.m. — Men’s Kayak Cross, Heats
• 3:00 p.m. — Men’s & Women’s Kayak Cross, Finals
• 4:30 p.m. — Kayak Cross Medal Ceremony
• 5:00 p.m. — Closing Ceremony

USA Canoe/Kayak Team athletes are entered across all three disciplines, so Monday’s kayak cross session, Tuesday’s kayak slalom, and Wednesday’s canoe slalom heats are the first look at the U.S. roster on home water — with semifinals and finals following Thursday and Friday and kayak cross head-to-head racing on Saturday.

Follow @acapaddlesports and @usacanoekayakteam on Instagram for daily updates!

Event Photography

Athletes, teams, and families: We have a wonderful photographer, Marc Hunt, shooting training and competition runs.  Images are free for download; we only ask that you tag @acapaddlesports and @usacanoekayakteam when re-sharing on social media, with photo credit to Marc Hunt | American Canoe Association.  Photos are searchable in the PHOTOSTREAM by name and NF code. Enjoy! 

https://www.flickr.com/people/marc_hunt_for_aca_paddlesports/