Australia finishes third on medal table at Ocean Racing World Championships
October 13, 2026
by Paddling Australia/ PON edit and extras
Australia has finished third on the medal table at the 2026 Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships in La Vila Joiosa, Spain, highlighted by a historic third world title for Jemma Smith and Australia’s first-ever mixed surfski double (SS2) world championship gold.
The Australian team delivered a strong series of performances across the championships, with Jemma Smith and Cory Hill combining to claim the inaugural mixed SS2 world title, alongside podium finishes across the open, age-category and doubles events, including Masters medallists from local clubs.
Jemma Wins her Third World Championship Single Surfski Medal
Jemma Smith made a memorable return to the world championship stage, winning the women’s surfski single (SS1) title for the third time in her career. Having previously claimed world titles in 2022 and 2023, Smith returned after two years away from the championship to reclaim the crown, defeating South Africa’s Kira Bester and Great Britain’s Rosemary Edwards.
Smith backed up her individual gold with another standout performance alongside Hill in the mixed SS2, with the pair navigating a highly competitive field to secure Australia’s first world title in the event.
Despite racing together for the first time, the experienced duo combined effectively to hold off South African pairings, with Smith and Hill crossing the line in 1:07:15, four seconds ahead of silver medallists Jade Wilson and Hank McGregor.
“It was a really, really hard race out there, and it was fantastic to partner with Cory,” Smith said.
“I was very glad that he said yes to lining up. It was just great to be able to be out there again and racing at the World Championships.
“The atmosphere has been great, so to take it in today has been incredible.”
Jemma commenced as a Nipper at Umina SLSC and currently races as part of the Newport SLSC of Pittwater cohort.
Jemma is a three-time NSW Youth Athlete of the year and in 2025 earned her first NSW Athlete of the Year title, which was followed up with being named the 2026 NSW Athlete of the Year.
Jemma had many outstanding achievements that 2024/25 Season, starting with a huge win at the Coolangatta Gold long course, before moving on to captain the NSW state team to another victory in the Interstate Ocean Championships.
She qualified for the Iron series, and bagged a total of 9 gold, 6 silver and 1 bronze medal at the State and Australian Championships. The highlight of this was winning the Champion Lifesaver for an incredible 11th year in a row.
In the 2025/26 Season Jemma continued earning her place as one of the country’s leading surf athletes. At the 2026 Australian Championships, she claimed an incredible five national titles – Open Champion Lifesaver, Patrol Competition, Single Ski, Ski Relay, Board Relay AND was named Female Athlete of the Carnival. She also secured five NSW titles and three Branch titles.
Jemma’s impact extends far beyond her own results. A respected leader, coach and mentor, she generously invests in the success of others – supporting junior athletes and coaches across multiple clubs. Jemma combines elite performance with humility, generosity and leadership, making her an outstanding role model and a truly deserving Athlete of the Year.
Jemma has been competing at the top level for well over a decade now. Not only is she an amazing athlete, Jemma continues to give back to the sport and the community at large.
Jemma - World Champion in SSK1 for third time
Jemma - loving her time in Spain 2026 Paddling Worlds
For Cory Hill, the mixed SS2 gold capped an impressive championship campaign after he claimed bronze in the open men’s SS1 before returning to the water with Smith.
Hill also secured gold in the SS1 Master 35-39 Men category, adding another podium finish to his weekend.
Reflecting on the mixed SS2 victory, Hill said the challenging beach finish made the result even more rewarding, and was thankful for the support behind the Australian team.
“Going in tight from the beach isn’t really what you want to do at the end of a good hour of paddling, but when you’re put in that position and you’re able to get the chocolates at the end, it feels that bit better knowing how hard it is to win a gold medal,” Hill said.
“A massive thank you to everyone who helps us get here, including all the sponsors, organisations and everyone who puts on races to help us get that experience.
“It would be awesome to have a couple of these doubles races in Australia one day too, because those South African teams are bloody good at it and it feels good to be up there with them.”
Australia’s success extended well beyond the open events, with strong results across the age categories and SS2 doubles competition.
In the junior men’s SS2, Jasper Hunter and Kaelan Montgomery (Terrigal High School) claimed gold, while fellow Australia’s Beau Jacob and Connor Jacob (W.A.) secured silver to complete an Australian one-two.
“It’s our first time competing together in a double, when we came over here we just decided to enter together,” Hunter said.
“There’s some good competition back at home but coming over here is a different level. We’re really glad to race against the best in the world and have a good crack,” Montgomery said.
Additional age-category podiums came from Wendy Reyntjes, who finished third in the SS1 Master 50-54 Women, Julian Norton-Smith, who claimed bronze in the SS1 Master 50-54 Men, and Jeremy Norton, who took silver in the SS1 Master 65-69 Men.
Grant Hughes Brings Home his Gazillionth Medal
Manly Warringah Kayak Club Member and President of the Northern Beaches Outrigger Canoe Club Grant Hughes also won the SS1 Master 70-74 Men title, before teaming up with Manly paddler Steven Coulter to claim silver in the SS2 Master 130-139 Men. Jamie Stubbs and Michael Moschogianis added another silver medal in the SS2 Master 110-119 Men.
“I’ve always been paddling in some format, coaching or different types of paddling with my family,” Grant Hughes said.
“I’m a bit slower off the mark these days, but I’m a steam train, I just come home strong.”
As a supporter of the Manly Warringah Kayak Club Grant Hughes worked for foundation President Len Turner as a builder and contributed a lot of carpentry work to MWKC.
How long has Grant been paddling? - well he was a 1984 Member of Australian Marathon Canoe Team K2 with Brett Worthy at the World Cup in Ireland, finishing 6th - but was obviously doing a fair bit prior to that to make it and excel there too.
Mr. Hughes - front and centre in Aussie green - below: Podium
The championships showcased the depth of Australian ocean racing, with paddlers representing the country across a wide range of ages and experience levels.
With a historic mixed SS2 victory, multiple individual podiums and strong performances throughout the age categories, Australia has delivered an impressive campaign at the 2026 Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships. The team finished with a total of nine medals including, four gold, two silver and three bronze.
The ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships took place in La Vila Joiosa, Spain from 9-11 October 2026.
Over 810 international paddlers, including a large Australian contingent, competed in the surfski and sea kayaking disciplines, with races over a distance of 20 kilometres, in the individual (SS1) and doubles (SS2) categories, as well as taking part in the relay event featuring the youngest paddlers.
Tahiti will host the 2027 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships (World Sea Kayaking / Surfski Championships) from September 30 to October 3, 2027.
Australian Team selected for the 2026 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships
U18 Men
- Kaelan Montgomery (NSW) – MSS-1
- Ethan Mott (TAS) – MSS-1
- Jasper Hunter (NSW) – MSS-1
- Connor Jacob (WA) – MSS-1
- Beau Jacob (WA) – MSS-1
U23 Men
- Dylan Askew (QLD) – MSS-1
- Alex Woodhouse (TAS) – MSS-1
- Rory Jarolimek (NSW) – MSS-1
Open Men
- Mackenzie Hynard (QLD) – MSS-1
- Mitchell Scott (TAS) – MSS-1
Open Women
- Phoebe Woodhouse (TAS) – MSS-1
- Jemma Smith (NSW) – MSS-1
Masters Men
- Philip Su (TAS) – MSS-1 35-39
- Ben Maynard (TAS) – MSS-1 45-49
- Alex Farrell (TAS) – MSS-1 45-49
- Todd Grace (QLD) – MSS-1 45-49
- Julian Norton-Smith (QLD) – MSS-1 50-54
- Garth Hunter (NSW) – MSS-1 50-54
- Bjorn Shakespeare (NSW) – MSS-1 50-54
- Matt O’Garey (NSW) – MSS-1 50-54
- Jamie Stubbs (TAS) – MSS-1 55-59
- Michael Moschogianis (TAS) – MSS-1 55-59
- Andrew Sneddon (NSW) – MSS-1 55-59
- Steven Coulter (NSW) – MSS-1 60-64
- Michael McKeogh (NSW) – MSS-1 60-64
- Greg Powell (QLD) – MSS-1 60-64
- Jeremy Norton (TAS) – MSS-1 65-69
- Grant Hughes (NSW) – MSS-1 70-74
Masters Women
- Genaea Oliphant (TAS) – WSS-1 45-49
- Wendy Reyntjes (VIC) – WSS-1 50-54
- Linda Davis (QLD) – WSS-1 50-54
Australian Team Results
SS1 Open Women
- Jemma Smith – 1st
- Phoebe Woodhouse – 12th
- Wendy Reyntjes – 43rd
- Linda Davis – 122nd
- Genaea Oliphant – 149th
SS1 Open Men
- Cory Hill – 3rd
- Alex Woodhouse – 22nd
- Kaelan Montgomery – 45th
- Mackenzie Hynard – 73rd
- Dylan Askew – 95th
- Julian Norton-Smith – 106th
- Ben Maynard – 108th
- Jasper Hunter – 118th
- Ethan Mott – 123rd
- Rory Jarolimek – 131st
- Jamie Stubbs – 148th
- Todd Grace – 163rd
- Mitchell Scott – 168th
- Bjorn Shakespeare – 169th
- Paul Navarro – 175th
- Garth Hunter – 177th
- Steven Coulter – 178th
- Beau Jacob – 206th
- Michael Moschogianis – 208th
- Connor Jacob – 233rd
- Jeremy Norton – 235th
- Michael McKeogh – 240th
- Andrew Parry – 243rd
- Carlos Perez – 295th
- Dean Parry – 330th
- Stephen Coda – 346th
- Matthew OGarey – 349th
- Grant Hughes – 391st
- Greg Powell – 400th
Age Categories
SS1 Under 23 Women
- Phoebe Woodhouse – 4th
SS1 Master 45-49 Women
- Genaea Oliphant – 11th
SS1 Master 50-54 Women
- Wendy Reyntjes – 3rd
- Linda Davis – 11th
Wendy Reyntjes, medallist
SS1 Junior Men
- Kaelan Montgomery – 5th
- Jasper Hunter – 20th
- Ethan Mott – 23rd
- Beau Jacob – 37th
- Connor Jacob – 39th
SS1 Under 23 Men
- Alex Woodhouse – 4th
- Dylan Askew – 26th
- Rory Jarolimek – 33rd
SS1 Master 35-39 Men
- Cory Hill – 1st
SS1 Master 45-49 Men
- Ben Maynard – 8th
- Todd Grace – 16th
SS1 Master 50-54 Men
- Julian Norton-Smith – 3rd
- Bjorn Shakespeare – 8th
- Garth Hunter – 10th
- Andrew Parry – 20th
- Matthew OGarey – 36th
SS1 Master 55-59 Men
- Jamie Stubbs – 4th
- Paul Navarro – 8th
- Michael Moschogianis – 10th
- Stephen Coda – 33rd
SS1 Master 60-64 Men*
- Steven Coulter – 4th
- Michael McKeogh – 10th
- Carlos Perez – 17th
- Dean Parry – 22nd
- Greg Powell – 31st
*Category results still under appeal
SS1 Master 65-69 Men
- Jeremy Norton (TAS) – 2nd
SS1 Master 70-74 Men
- Grant Hughes – 1st
SS2 Open Junior Men
- Jasper Hunter & Kaelan Montgomery – 1st
- Beau Jacob & Connor Jacob – 2nd
SS2 Master 110-119 Men
- Jamie Stubbs & Michael Moschogianis – 2nd
SS2 Master 130-139 Men
- Grant Hughes & Steven Coulter – 2nd
SS2 Open Mix
- Jemma Smith & Cory Hill – 1st
- Genaea Oliphant & Ben Maynard – 86th
SS2 Master 90-99 Mix
- Genaea Oliphant & Ben Maynard – 5th
Find all results from the 2026 Ocean Racing World Championships here.
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