Day 2 of the ICF Slalom World Championships in Sydney delivered elite performances in the individual canoe (C1) heats, as the world’s best battled the Penrith rapids for a place in Thursday’s semi-finals.

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In the men’s event, Adam Kral (CZE) laid down a blistering 93.56-second run to top the leaderboard, followed closely by Kacper Sztuba (POL) and Miquel Trave (ESP). All three produced a masterclass of fast clean runs showcasing the best of the sport down under. 

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Australia’s Kaylen Bassett and Tristan Carter also impressed with top 10 finishes, while Ben Ross advanced in his senior World Championships debut, finishing 24th.

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“It wasn’t perfect, but I backed myself and stuck to my plan,” Ross said. “To race at home with my club and family watching -it was incredible.”

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In the women’s C1 heats, Nuria Vilarrubla (ESP) led the field with a faultless run, edging out Kimberley Woods (GBR) and Doriane Delassus (FRA). All three delivered precision performances under pressure, navigating the technical course with confidence.

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Olympic champion Noemie Fox breezed through to the semi-final after completing the fastest run down the Penrith rapids. Fox finished seventh in the order after two gate touches, resulting in four seconds penalty.

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“I had two touches but held it together really well. I know that my time was solid," Fox said.

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“We're not used to racing with that much crowd intensity and you feel it carry you down. It's great to see everyone out even though it's hot but everyone's enjoying it."

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Aussie Georgia O’Callaghan has also earned a start in Thursday’s semi-final after she placed 38th, while Kate Eckhardt was unlucky to miss a gate and finished 50th.

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The competition resumes Wednesday with the Kayak Heats (K1) and Kayak Teams events, promising another day of world-class action.

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The ICF Slalom World Championships are live and free on 9Now. For full results - click here

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What the Australians said: 

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Noemie Fox - Australia 

On qualifying for the Semi-Final:

"It was tough, it was great. I felt really good in the warm up and just enjoyed it. I wanted to put down a top 30 qualifying run. It was quite nerve-racking. I watched a few of the girls. I watched Kate [Eckhardt, AUS] and it's always heartbreaking to see mistakes like that [a missed gate] happen. I managed the nerves well. I had two touches but held it together really well. I know that my time was solid."

"I really felt the crowd. We're not used to racing with that much crowd intensity and you feel it carry you down. It's great to see everyone out even though it's hot but everyone's enjoying it."

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On this team event this afternoon:

"For us it's about getting another run down the course. For Kate and I doubling up it's a practice for the kayak as well.. It's really that breather in a World Championships program where we can just enjoy it and push each other on and feel the camaraderie. We'll have a good time together and get it over the line."

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On carrying the flag for Australia in the Opening Ceremony:

"It's always a huge honour to wear the green and gold let alone carry the flag for the team. It's super special. I was pretty much born here and spent a lot of time here. Carrying that flag at a world championships event is super special. The days are long, they're big, but you take those little bits of inspiration with you to use.

Georgia O’Callaghan - Australia

On her race:

"Two touches wasn't ideal. At the start up there, it's pretty intense, after a pretty hard day yesterday. Pretty hard to stay focused with everything that's going on but I think I did the best I could probably do in those conditions."

"I don't think I put yesterday behind me. I'm still caught up on that [coming 50th in the Kayak Cross], a hard one to digest - it was a bit hard to compartmentalise but I tried to put it in my back pocket and focus on what I had to do today."

On looking forward to the events ahead:

"I'll take some time to go through the feels of today, let those emotions go through and give myself that time and then switch it off and then keep going ahead."
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Benjamin Ross - Australia 

On the championships, the course and local support:

“It was unbelievable, the whole build up into the World Championships, being a home race, it was a lot of pressure at the start line. I really felt it but having my whole canoe club, my friends and family here, it was incredible.

“I could hear every one of them on the way down, and it was everything I dreamed of for my first run at a World Championships.

“There were a lot of nerves. It felt like a big event, which it obviously is, a great crowd has turned out, the whole Australian slalom community are here and it felt like they were right behind me.”

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On his personal performance today:

“I’m super proud, it wasn’t a perfect run by any stretch, a couple of little mistakes and an unfortunate touch, but to be able to back myself and stick to my plan get to the bottom of the run … I know I left everything out there, it was a special feeling.

“I was happy with it, I felt like I paddled to my level and that’s all you can do in slalom - deliver what you’re capable of and be proud of it.

“My whole canoe club, Melbourne Canoe Club, has come up to support me. One of my long-time coaches is commentating, Warwick Draper, so to hear him in the start box it felt like there was a bit of home with me here today.”

Kaylen Bassett - Australia 

On today’s performance:

“This was the day I was most nervous about. I just wanted to get through to that semi-final so I can be working towards that medal performance hopefully on Thursday. So kind of glad to get that one out of the way.

“The run was solid, I’ll definitely take that, and to cross the line in third place at the time, yeah I’m pretty content with that.”

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On the course layout:

“It was an interesting heats course, quite open at the bottom, a little bit unconventional at the top perhaps. Just the placement of the gates was a little bit fiddly, so definitely had to be focused and pay attention to your line, but I think there’s a lot of potential for people to attack the course.”

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On preparation for the semi-final and local support:

“I’m definitely looking forward to the semi-final. I’ll now go and find some friends and family and work colleagues and thank them for coming out and supporting me.

“I had a moment before the start where friends from work rocked up and they were cheering me on, I was trying to stay in the zone, but it’s moments like that at a World Championship that you really enjoy.”

Tristan Carter - Australia

On today’s performance and leadup:

“I am happy to get that out of the way, it’s the first run and it steals a lot of nerves. There was a lot of emotion and I think the (gate) touch came from that, I was a bit jittery, so just happy to get that first one out of the way and I’m through, and I’m a bit more settled.”

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On the Australian support:

“It played out like I was at home to be honest. I wasn’t really feeling it with the emotion and stress and everything, but because it’s home, it didn’t really matter, because you have that support.

“Even though I was feeling all of that I was still able to be comfortable and do the things I’ve done a thousand times. So I think that really helps.”

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On three Australians qualifying for the semi-final:

“Three from three – me, Ben and Kaylen, we’re all through, we’re all up there, and that’s an amazing start. We’re happy as a group.”

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