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Slovenia has enjoyed memorable moments at the Canoe Sprint World Championships over the years, with much of that success built around its women.

Špela Ponomarenko Janić became one of the country’s most successful sprint paddlers, while Anja Osterman – now Anja Apollonio – helped continue that tradition with individual and K2 World Championship medals.

More recently, another door was opened at the 2024 World Championships in Samarkand when Slovenia claimed bronze in the newly introduced Mixed K4 500m through Mia Medved, Anja Osterman, Anže Urankar and Rok Šmit. Slovenia moved onto the podium following Portugal’s disqualification.

But in Poznań, a new chapter is being written by Slovenia’s men.

First K2 500m World Final A for Slovenia

Matevž Manfreda and Anže Pikon have qualified Slovenia for its first-ever senior World Championship Final A in the Men’s K2 500m, one of canoe sprint’s Olympic events.

The Slovenian pair delivered when it mattered most in Poznań, winning their semifinal and securing their place among the world’s top boats.

It is already the best Slovenian result ever in this event at a senior World Championships.

But the achievement becomes even more significant when looking at how Manfreda and Pikon have progressed together.

Final C. Final B. Final A.

Their first senior World Championship appearance together in the K2 500m came in Duisburg in 2023.

They reached Final C and finished fifth, placing them 23rd overall in the world.

Two years later, at the 2025 World Championships in Milan, they took another major step.

This time Slovenia progressed to Final B. Manfreda and Pikon finished third there in 1:38.11, improving to 12th overall.

And now, in Poznań:

2023 – Final C
2025 – Final B
2026 – Final A

In three successive senior World Championship appearances together, the Slovenian crew has climbed through every level of the competition.

From 23rd in the world to 12th.

And now into the top nine.

A medal at U23 level showed what could come

There had already been signs that Manfreda and Pikon were moving towards the senior elite.

Only one year ago, at the 2025 Junior and U23 World Championships in Montemor-o-Velho, the pair stood on a World Championship podium together.

They won bronze in the Men’s K2 500m Under 23 final, finishing behind Portuguese World Champions Gustavo Gonçalves and Pedro Casinha and the Italian crew of Francesco Lanciotti and Nicolo Volo.

They had also finished fourth at the 2025 U23 European Championships, confirming their place among the leading young K2 crews in Europe.

One year later, they are no longer simply challenging the best at Under 23 level.

They are racing them in a senior World Championship Final A.

A new generation for Slovenian sprint

The achievement also carries wider significance for Slovenia.

The country’s World Championship medal history has traditionally been driven by its female paddlers, particularly Ponomarenko Janić and Osterman/Apollonio. The Mixed K4 bronze in Samarkand in 2024 added a different dimension to that history.

Now Manfreda and Pikon are pushing Slovenia into new territory in the men’s programme.

They have not won a senior World Championship medal yet.

But they have already achieved something no Slovenian Men’s K2 500m crew had managed before: earning the right to race for one in Final A.

And the progression of this partnership makes the achievement particularly striking.

There is only one step left.

Poznań has already given Matevž Manfreda and Anže Pikon the best Slovenian World Championship result ever in the Men’s K2 500m. Now they have the opportunity to discover how much further they can take it.