Joe Clarke (GBR) claimed a fourth consecutive world title in the men’s Kayak Cross on the final day of the Slalom World Championships 2025. An Olympic silver medalist in this event in Paris, Clarke went one better at Penrith and his commanding performance capped off a week of thrilling slalom competition at the Whitewater Stadium.

Although the Olympic Champion Finn Butcher (NZL) was relegated to the small final, Clarke still faced tough opposition from a stacked field. Mathurin Madore (FRA) secured silver behind Clarke, while Matyas Novak (CZE) rounded out the podium in third.

What the athletes said...

Joseph Clarke (GBR) – gold

On winning a fourth world championship:

‍“It's incredible. Obviously, that was the aim when I came out here today, but there's a lot of rounds and a lot of good guys to beat to get there. So just building round by round, I think I had actually got more energy as the competition went through. I started rising to the occasion again and being able to form under the big pressure at the big time. So that's good and I love the kayak cross.

On a great start and dominating the race:

“I just had to start sprinting, that really is the key on this course, and I obviously had that good ramp start and we also did a lot of training practice on that, so it seems to have paid off.

“I was really confident going in, but obviously there's a lot of things you can't necessarily predict in the sport, and I think I was just trying to cut out as many as possible and just do my game, which is getting out at the start and staying ahead.

On winning a fourth world championship:

“I've had a difficult season, I had my second child at the start of the season, so I missed the first couple of World Cups and then had a few disappointments in the World Cups, and obviously in slalom not qualifying is very disappointing being reigning world champion in that, and not qualifying, was a massive disappointment. So I think I had a point to prove coming into today and I was firing in the belly and left nothing out there and that’s how I did it today.

On aiming for five titles in a row:

“Well, that's the aim, I guess. I mean, why stop with a six or seven, but I mean, yeah, let's just let's let this one settle in first and then we'll start making our plans for the fifth.

On getting home to see the family:

“It’s back home to the family. I've got a two and a half year old and a three and a half month old, so my wife's been manning for fort for the last three weeks on her own, bless her. So it's about about time to get some family time back at home.”

“She's been watching all night, bless her, she's been waking up every couple of hours anyway, so she's been tuning into all the rounds. I've not managed to get my phone yet, so I can't wait to get hold of that and give her a call and see my son and my daughter.”‍

Mathurin Madore (FRA) – silver

“I'm very happy, maybe I'm not realising I have the medal yet. It was really a tough day. I didn't make the best run at each round so I didn't have the best spot on the ramp each time. But I made it through every run, and I finished second so obviously I'm so happy with this day.

“I was expecting a difficult competition. I think it's still a young event, the kayak cross, but people are improving every year. So I think there was a really competitive field this year from round one. Even the first one, it was really difficult to go through. So I was trying to stay focussed on each run, don't think about the medal, the final and so I'm really happy with it.”

“Kayak Cross is like a game. It's not about being the fastest, it's not being about being the strongest, but you have to be clever. You have to find opportunities, you have to adapt your plans every time and I like that sensation when I'm on the ramp. I don't know what is going to happen. I know I will have to adapt and I really like that.” 

“I'm not going to off-season yet because we have some national championships and I'm going to race in slalom because I was only on the kayak cross team for France in the world championship. So I'm looking forward to racing slalom in the national championship and then at the beginning of French winter maybe I will have a break and that's pretty exciting, too.”

Matyas Novak (CZE) – bronze

On winning a bronze medal:

I'm super happy. I'm loving Australia. This is super cool for me and I'm so happy.

It was a tough battle out there. I felt super good on the water and I tried to get a really fast start and almost every time I was first on the first stopper and then I just got pushed, it was a work out.

On the winner:

Joe Clarke, he was just too good. I think if I wasn’t attacked from the back I could have caught him in the first upstream. But he's really good. I mean he's world champion four times in a row.

I just tried to do my best and it almost worked out for me. His medal is fantastic.

 Finn Butcher (NZL) - 5th and winner of the small final

“It’s nice to finish off the world championships with first in the small final. I would have liked to be fighting in the final, but it is what it is. Everyone is super good so fifth is a good result.”

“We’ll enjoy tonight and hanging out with all our friends from all over the world.”

“A worlds almost at home is amazing. I first came here to Penrith when I was 14 and I’ve got a poster from the 2005 World Champs hanging in my bedroom, and it's been there since 2005 when I was 10. So it’s pretty cool to come back 20 years later and be able to race yesterday in the kayak final and just missing out on the medal was pretty incredible. Penrith is an awesome spot, and the course is so good. Everyone who's pitched in for the organising has been doing an amazing job. So I think you'll get some rave reviews, which is pretty cool.”

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‍Event Recap

Semi final 

Kayak Cross specialist Matyas Novak (CZE) powered to a semi final win and a place in the men's Kayak Cross final. Novak, 20, took line honours with Mathurin Madore (FRA) in second, securing them a place in the World Championship final. Titouan Castryck (FRA) Noah Hegge (GER) were left to lament in third and fourth place as a finals berth slipped from their grasp.

Joe Clarke (GBR) signalled his strong intentions to claim a fourth Kayak Cross World Championship title, winning a place in the final with a solid paddle in the semi final. Maxime Aubertin (BEL) was second, tipping out Jakub Krejci (CZE) who was making a tilt for his third medal these championships, and Olympic champion Finn Butcher (NZL).

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Quarterfinal

Lucien Delfour (AUS) did not advance to the medal after he finished his quarterfinal in fourth place. Delfour struggled to clear an upstream gate and lost valuable time with little chance to recover against tough competition. Delfour was the last hope for Australia's third medal at the championships.

Noah Hegge (GER) and Titouan Castryck (FRA) won the first semifinal spots, Hegge winning by a seven-second margin setting him up for more success in the hot race to the final.

Matyas Novak (CZE) pipped Mathurin Madore (FRA) in a photo finish, deciding an exciting finish to the second quarterfinal which had plenty of hustle and bustle. Competition was so fierce Gate 3 was damaged in the race and caused a minor delay to the program while repairs were carried out.

Jakub Krejci's (CZE) strength and speed came to the fore in the third quarterfinal to secure a place in the second semifinal. Krejci blasted his way to the front from the ramp drop and powered to a decisive win over kayak cross specialist Maxime Aubertin (BEL).

Joseph Clarke (GBR) made his intentions crystal clear when he dominated the fourth quarterfinal to win ahead of master tactician Finn Butcher (NZL). The pair progresses to the semifinals and a crack at the final where medal glory awaits.

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Heats

Lucien Delfour (AUS) survived a long and tense wait to progress to the quarterfinal after finishing third across the line in a dramatic first heat. Officials took several minutes to confirm Delfour would progress in second place after relegating David Llorente (ESP) on review. Heat winner Sam Leaver (GBR) went through to the quarters with Delfour.

Noah Hegge (GER) and Titouan Castryck (FRA) finished 1-2 in the second heat. Australian hopeful Tim Anderson finished third with his competition now finished.

(GBR) Jonny Dickson missed the quarterfinals in a huge upset going down to Jakub Grigar (SVK) and Pedro Gonglaves (BRA)  who progressed to the first quarterfinal.

Matys Novak (CZE) and Mathurin Madore (FRA) were dominant in heat three, maintaining a comfortable early lead to secure the first spots in the second quarterfinal.

On track for his third medal at these championships, Jakub Krejci (CZE) kept his cool to score an easy heat five win over Benjamin Renia (FRA)  by more than seven seconds. Renia took second in a photo finish from Nicholas Collier (NZL)  in third.

Maxime Aubertin (BEL) and Manuel Ochoa (ESP)  were untroubled in heat six, securing a place in the third quarterfinal with Krejci and Renia.

Olympic champion Finn Butcher kept New Zealand's hopes of a World Championship medal alive with a commanding show of strength, hitting the line about six seconds in front of second-placed Mateusz Polaczyk (POL) 

Joseph Clarke (GBR) continues to look ominous in his push to the final with a comfortable win over second place Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA) in the last heat of the day.

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Repechage

Stefan Hengst (GER) and Pedro Goncalves (BRA) took their second chance in race one of the repechage to comfortably progress to the heats.

Lucien Delfour (AUS) crossed in second place in race two and survived a race review to keep his place to progress. Team-mate Ben Pope's championships finished with a third place and elimination.

Noah Hegge (GER) and Artem Ivchecko (UKR) are through after race three while countrymen Martin Dougoud and Gelindo Chiarello (SUI) bundled out after a review on Dougoud's finish.

Poland's Jakub Brzezinski broke his paddle early in race four but battled on with half a paddle. 

Team-mate Tadeusz Kuchno won the race in a photo finish from Martin Halcin (SVK) 

Mateusz Polaczyk (POL) won the final repechage and progressed with Austria's Mario Leitner who finished in second place.

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Round 1

Joe Clarke's (GBR) campaign for a fourth World Championship in a row started well with an easy round one win in race two. Martin Dougoud (SUI) will head to the repechage after finishing second to team-mate Jan Rohrer (SUI).

One of the stars of these World Championships, Jakub Krejci (CZE), easily qualified in his bid for a gold medal after winning bronze and silver this week.

Ziga Lin Hocevar (SLO) won his race and is looking strong and confident, overcoming a disappointing World Championships this week.

Matyas Novak (CZE) and Sam Leaver (GBR), who won the last World Cup of the season, both went through.

Overall World Cup winner Jonny Dickson (GBE)  had an effortless round one win, finishing about seven seconds ahead of Giovanni De Gennaro (ITA).

Olympic Gold medalist Finn Butcher (NZL)  went through after finishing first ahead of Alistair McCreery.

Tim Anderson (AUS) charged into the heats with a convincing round one win ahead of Stefan Hengst (GER). Aussie team-mates Ben Pope and Lucien Delfour are heading to the repechage for a second chance at the heats. Pope was third to David Llorente (FRA) and Benjamin Renia (ESP), while Delfour finished fourth in his race after picking up a fault.

Titouan Castryck and Under 23 World Champion Nicholas Collier (NZL)  went through in the last race of round one.