Two UAE-based paddlers have won a world championship silver medal. Tiago Oliveira and Milan Gajdobranski finished second in their age category in the SS2 doubles at the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, completing the race in 1 hour 14 minutes.
Held from 9 to 11 October, the International Canoe Federation (ICF) championships are the flagship event of the ocean racing calendar, according to the pair’s press release. This year they brought together more than 800 athletes from 39 countries, and were organised by Club Nàutic La Vila Joiosa with the ICF.
Oliveira said: “Standing on a world championship podium at an event of this calibre is a proud moment.” Gajdobranski said: “This medal is about taking our paddling to a new level.” He added that the pair trained hard for the result and hope it inspires more people in the UAE to get out on the water.
Other UAE Results
Several fellow UAE-based paddlers also posted top-10 category finishes. Georgie and Tim finished 7th in the SS2 doubles, while Heidi and Fraser and Yvonne and Liam were each 9th. Georgie also took 8th of 18 in her individual race. Ameneh, Tom, Fraser, Steve, Tim, Liam and Yvonne also completed their individual races.
The release thanks the paddling community at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC) and the PaddlerHub crew, whom it describes as an integral part of the team’s training.
Result at a Glance
- Event: 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships
- Dates: 9 to 11 October 2026
- Venue: La Vila Joiosa, Spain
- Category: SS2 doubles, age category
- Result: Silver, in 1 hour 14 minutes