Approved Qualification System Unveiled for Canoe Marathon at The World Games 2025
The Canoe Marathon qualification system for The World Games (TWG) 2025 in Chengdu, China has been ratified by the International Canoe Federation (ICF).
Men's K1 short-distance, men's K1 long-distance, women's K1 short-distance and women's K1 long-distance races will feature at next year's Games. A total of 20 quota places in both the men's and women's K1 competitions will be up for grabs at this year's ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships.
Metkovic, Croatia will host the World Championships from 19 to 22 September when paddlers will fight it out for spots at TWG 2025.
Quota places will be allocated to the respective National/Regional Federations and not to the athlete that achieved the spot in the qualification event. Each athlete can only earn one spot for their Federation and those selected must compete in both the short-distance and long-distance races in the same class at TWG 2025.
At the World Championships, the first placed boat from each continent in the men's K1 long-distance and women's K1 long-distance races will secure a quota for their Federation. A total of 11 quota spots will then be allocated to the best ranked Federations not yet qualified in the long-distance races.
The third step in the qualification process will see three quota places allotted to the best ranked Federations that had yet to qualify in the same class from the results of the short-distance races.
If The World Games hosts China achieved a TWG 2025 place at the World Championships, their position will be reallocated to the best ranked Federation that had not yet qualified in the long-distance race of the same class, regardless of the continent.
The ICF will inform the Federations in writing within 14 days of the last competition day of the World Championships of their allocated athlete quota places.
The Federation will then have up to 30 days from that notification to confirm or decline their places to the ICF.
If a quota spot is not accepted within this timeframe, it will be returned for the reallocation process.
The qualification system is the same as the one used for TWG 2022 in Birmingham, United States where Canoe Marathon featured for the first time as an official discipline.
Canoe Marathon, Dragon Boat and Canoe Polo will be on the programme at TWG 2025.
"The ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Metkovic will be a thoroughly exciting event with quota places for The World Games on the line," said Ruud Heijselaar, Chair of the ICF Canoe Marathon Committee.
"Canoe Marathon enjoyed a fantastic debut as a medal event at The World Games in Birmingham and we cannot wait to feature again in Chengdu next year."
Click here for Canoe Marathon qualification system
Source: International Canoe Federation
Edited by Zhang Hang
