Led by two-time women's World Champion Kira Bester, a potent South African canoe ocean racing team will this weekend look to continue its dominance of the discipline at the World Championships in Spain.
Six current World Champions are in the 2026 squad alongside a host of other paddlers who have won or earned medals at World Championship level – in both ocean racing and flatwater marathon racing.
Bester will be looking to make it three in a row after her thrilling home victory in Durban 12 months and in Madeira, Portugal in 2024. The diminutive powerhouse from Cape Town will line up as the paddler to beat, but faces a strong field despite the absence of last year's silver medallist, Danielle Richards of New Zealand.
Bester will be particularly wary of 2022 and 2023 champion Jemma Smith from Australia, who returns after a two-year break from the World Championships.
Meanwhile, compatriot and 2021 winner, veteran Michelle Burn, leads a quartet of South Africans who have all earned medals at World Champs level. Melanie van Niekerk has two senior silver medals, and Georgia Singe and Jade Wilson were second and third respectively in the U23 race last year – while Singe also won the mixed doubles and junior races in 2024.
Other women in the mix include Britain's Rosie Edwards and Spain's Judit Verges.
In the men's race, Australian Cory Hill defends his title and looks a strong bet to earn his fifth title, with the South African challenge led by Uli Hart and former World Champions Nic Notten and Kenny Rice, with backup from brothers Matt and Josh Fenn.
Two sentimental favourites for South Africa will be Dawid Mocke and Hank McGregor. The pair of 40-something legends are facing a battle against age, but in tricky conditions their experience could make the difference.
The European challenge will be led by 2024 winner Gordan Harbrecht from Germany, 2025 runner-up Pierre Vilella from France and Portugal's Bernardo Pereira, who claimed third overall and won the U23 category last year.
There are also sure to be a sprinkling of medals in the U23 and junior races, with Sam Mocke aiming for his third junior title in a row.
The Championships take place within a three-day race window, with the singles races and mixed doubles races scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday respectively.