The women's canoe final (C1W) opened the medal action with Germany's Lucia Hacker producing a superb performance to move up from second place in the semi-finals and claim the 2026 European title. Germany celebrated a remarkable one-two finish as Naya Daruwala secured the silver medal. Great Britain's Ottilie Burrill Smith completed the podium with bronze, narrowly holding off Poland's Zofia Tula by just 6.67 points.
In the men's canoe final (C1M), France's Tom Dolle continued his extraordinary winning streak, adding another European title to a season already filled with victories. Dolle had effectively secured gold before his final ride, allowing him to entertain the crowd with a playful and relaxed performance. Fellow French paddler Abel Thenevet, who secured silver, even joined him on the wave after the buzzer in one of the most memorable moments of the championship. Great Britain's Matthew Stephenson claimed bronze, earning his first-ever European Championship medal.
Between the senior finals, spectators were treated to a showcase of the sport's future through the Cadet demonstrations. In the girls' category, Norway's Alicia Pedersen impressed with an outstanding score of 445 points to take victory ahead of Spain's Mar Martí Boada. At just 12 years old, Martí Boada was the youngest participant of the entire event. Ireland's Jack Minchin was the sole competitor in the boys' category and demonstrated excellent potential for the future.
The entertainment continued as senior athletes joined the younger paddlers in a series of fun challenges, including paddling blindfolded and kayaking without paddles. Spectators also enjoyed a unique display of Finnish culture as local log floaters demonstrated the traditional art of balancing on floating logs while navigating downstream through the competition feature.
The Junior Men's Kayak (K1JM) final showcased the impressive level of Europe's next generation. Great Britain's Matt Cradock secured the European title with a winning run of 1,031.67 points. France's Arthur Genovese claimed silver with 973.33 points, while Germany's Lukas Ramsayer completed the podium with bronze after another outstanding performance following his dominant displays earlier in the week.
The Junior Women's Kayak (K1JW) final produced one of the biggest surprises of the championships. Poland's Maja Kawczyńska stormed from fifth place in the semi-finals to capture the European title. Germany's Linn Schaefer improved from fourth to second place to secure silver, while Ireland's Mea Minchin maintained her consistency to take bronze. Finland's Nea Rautio dropped from second place in the semi-finals to fourth, while Germany's Marie Dimke, the semi-final winner, finished fifth.
The Women's Kayak (K1W) final celebrated a new generation of talent, with all three medallists having recently graduated from the junior ranks. Finland's Taru Terni delighted the home crowd by winning gold with 626.67 points. The victory carried special significance, as the last Finnish paddler to win this European title was her mother, Marjaana Terni. Ireland's Leah Hough secured silver with 586.67 points, while Great Britain's Isabella Wormall claimed bronze, edging Austria's Jasmin Stangl-Brachnik by just 3.33 points. Poland's Zofia Tula, who entered the competition as the reigning European silver medallist, finished fifth.
The championship concluded with a thrilling Men's Kayak (K1M) final featuring some of the highest-level freestyle kayaking seen all week. Defending European Champion Tomasz Czaplicki of Poland successfully retained his title with a spectacular winning run worth 1,701.67 points. France's Tom Dolle added a second medal to his collection with silver, scoring 1,603.33 points and becoming the only athlete to reach the podium in two different categories. Poland secured a second medal in the event as Bartosz Czauderna took bronze. Ireland's David McLure finished fourth, while Finland's Vira Rahkola rounded out the top five.
By the end of the championships, Germany, France and Great Britain topped the medal standings with four medals each. Poland collected three medals, Ireland secured two, and Finland celebrated a memorable home-water gold medal.
As the athletes packed their boats and began their journeys home, the 2026 Paddle Europe Freestyle Championships closed with smiles, new friendships, and unforgettable memories. Lieksa provided a spectacular stage for Europe's best freestyle paddlers, delivering a championship that will be remembered long after the final ride.
Full results
here
13.6.2026
