LA VILA JOIOSA, SPAIN — South Africa’s ocean racing elite delivered a formidable opening statement on Day 1 of the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, claiming three individual medals and placing ten senior athletes in the global top tens. Competing in a historic field of 809 athletes from 40 nations, Team SA laid a strong foundation in their quest for a fourth consecutive team title.
Friday’s SS1 (Surfski Single) events saw the world’s best tackle the Mediterranean waters. While European and Australian athletes took the top steps in the elite categories, the sheer depth of the South African squad proved why they are the reigning powerhouse of global ocean paddling.
Bester Claims Silver as SA Women Dominate the Top 10
Defending world champion Kira Bester led the charge for the South African women, securing a hard-fought silver medal. Bester finished in 1:23:37.9, crossing the line behind Australia’s Jemma Smith who took gold. Great Britain’s rising star, 21-year-old Rosie Edwards, rounded out the podium.
The defining story of the Women’s Open, however, was South Africa’s overwhelming depth. An incredible six South African paddlers finished in the top 10. Jade Wilson narrowly missed the podium, finishing just seven seconds behind Edwards in fourth place, followed closely by veteran Michelle Burn in fifth.
Women's SS1 Open Top 5:
Pos | Country | Athlete | Time | Behind Winner |
1 | AUS | Jemma Smith | 1:21:08.1 | – |
2 | RSA | Kira Bester | 1:23:37.9 | 02:29.7 |
3 | GBR | Rosie Edwards | 1:24:33.1 | 03:24.9 |
4 | RSA | Jade Wilson | 1:24:40.4 | 03:32.3 |
5 | RSA | Michelle Burn | 1:24:50.5 | 03:42.4 |
(Other SA Top 10 finishes: Melanie van Niekerk [8th], Saskia Hockly [9th], Georgia Singe [10th])
This depth was bolstered by brilliant performances from the youth squad. In the U23 division, Saskia Hockly (1:26:12.5) and Georgia Singe (1:26:16.9) powered their way to Silver and Bronze respectively, beaten only by Great Britain’s overall bronze-medallist Rosie Edwards. Holly Smith and Nicola Harcus also secured top 10 finishes in the U23 category, cementing South Africa’s future in the sport.
McGregor Edged Out in Deep Men's Field
In the Men’s SS1 Open, the racing was fiercely contested at the front. Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht claimed the world title in 1:13:51.3, successfully defending European pride against the traditionally dominant Southern Hemisphere nations. France’s Pierre Vilella took silver, and Australia’s defending champion Cory Hill was forced to settle for bronze.
South African legend Hank McGregor put in a massive effort but agonizingly missed the podium, finishing fourth just 15 seconds behind Hill. Despite missing out on the individual medals, the South African men mirrored the women’s depth, placing four paddlers in the elite top 10. Former world champions Nicholas Notten (7th) and Kenny Rice (9th) were joined by Robert Hart (8th) in a tightly packed finish.
Men's SS1 Open Top 5 & SA Finishers:
Pos | Country | Athlete | Time | Behind Winner |
1 | GER | Gordan Harbrecht | 1:13:51.3 | – |
2 | FRA | Pierre Vilella | 1:14:34.0 | 00:42.6 |
3 | AUS | Cory Hill | 1:14:53.7 | 01:02.3 |
4 | RSA | Hank McGregor | 1:15:08.8 | 01:17.5 |
7 | RSA | Nicholas Notten | 1:16:01.3 | 02:10.0 |
8 | RSA | Robert Hart | 1:16:15.2 | 02:23.8 |
9 | RSA | Kenny Rice | 1:16:16.9 | 02:25.6 |
The men’s team did not walk away empty-handed, however. In the Men’s U23 race, Levi Mayes surged to a Bronze medal finish with a time of 1:19:05.9, trailing only Portugal’s Bernardo Pereira and France’s Lanee Marin. Fellow South Africans Rory Coetzer (5th) and David Coetzer (9th) also stamped their authority in the U23 top 10.
Team Captain Dawid Mocke’s squad has clearly carried their momentum from the 2025 World Championships in Durban straight into the Mediterranean. With the SS1 individual events concluded, all eyes now turn to today’s SS2 (Surfski Double) events. Featuring highly anticipated mixed, men’s, and women’s pairings, the South African contingent will be back on the water looking to add more gold to their tally and lock down their fourth consecutive team world championship.
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