New Zealander Jacqueline Kennedy is the 2026 junior women’s K1 500m world champion, after winning the A final in the early hours of Sunday morning (NZ time) at the ICF Junior & U23 World Championships in Halifax, Canada.
In a perfectly executed race, the 17 year old from Gisborne came from behind to shock the frontrunners and capture the world title for New Zealand in 1:57.35, just 0.08s ahead of Italy’s Anastasia Insabella. Hungary’s Lili Gazdag took home the bronze in 1:57.87.
It is a historic first junior gold medal for New Zealand, and the first junior K1 medal of any colour.
“I’m ecstatic,” Jacqueline told the ICF reporter after the race.
“I just can’t believe it. The competition is so insane and coming from New Zealand and racing against these massive countries like Italy, Czech and Hungary, it just makes it even more special.
“When I came across the line, I was just proud that I’d finished the race and given it everything. I looked across and saw everyone in my team cheering me on. I didn’t even know what place I’d come, and then I found out I’d won. I was just so intensely grateful.
“I’ve had so much support from home. My sponsors, local businesses, and the people back home have been such a big part of this journey. I’ve got so many people to talk to tonight; I don’t think I’m going to sleep.
“I was so nervous. I’ve had such amazing idols, like Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher, and to be able to represent my country the way they did means so much to me. ”
Aimee Fisher – two-time Olympian and the current women’s K1 500m world record holder – is one of only 2 other New Zealand athletes who have won a junior world championship medal, herself and Kim Thompson winning a bronze medal in the junior women’s K2 500m in 2013.
Jacqueline is following in her footsteps, having just earlier this week being selected for the open NZ Kayak team for the upcoming World Championships in Poland in August. But for now, Jacqueline’s focus has been on this junior campaign.
It’s been a strong world championship event so far for the young NZ team, achieving five top 9 results with two days of competition to go.
The junior women’s K4 (Stella Crossan, Alexis Toy, Jacqueline Kennedy and Taylor Newman) placed 4th overall in the 500m event, the best result for a NZ K4 crew at a Junior/U23 world championship.
The U23 men’s K4 crew (Dylan Monk, Thomas MacGibbon, Sam Lees, Reid Clancy) placed 9th in the 500m final. Thomas MacGibbon was 7th in the U23 men’s K1 200m final and Natasha MacGibbon was 8th in the women’s U23 K1 1000m A final.
Earlier on Saturday, Taylor Newman in the junior WK1 200m, Stella Crossan and Alexis Toy in the junior WK2 and Olive Pearce and Madison Garrett in the U23 WK2 all placed 3rd in their semis and earned their spots in their respective A Finals.
Everything you need to know- 2026 ICF Junior & U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships
