Kraków 2023 champion Carlos Arévalo adds world bronze in Poznań

Spanish canoe sprinter Carlos Arévalo secured bronze in the men’s K1 200m at the 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Poznań, adding another major international medal to his career. Arévalo crossed the line in 34.98 seconds as part of an entirely European final.

His result contributed to Spain’s final tally of six medals at the championships: two silver and four bronze. Sara Ouzande was another of the delegation’s leading performers, earning silver in the women’s K4 500m alongside Lucía Val, Daniela García Heredia and Bárbara Pardo before taking bronze in the individual K1 200m. Laia Pèlachs also claimed silver in the women’s K1 1000m.

The five-day competition featured 36 medal events and once again demonstrated the strength of European canoe sprint and paracanoe. European athletes collected 71 of the 109 medals awarded, including 26 golds, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the world titles decided in Poznań.

Hungary topped the combined medal table with five golds and 14 medals overall, while Germany matched its total of five titles. The final day brought further European success as Carlotta Loske, Balázs Adolf, Melina Andersson and Fernando Pimenta completed a clean sweep of the four 5,000m world titles.

For Arévalo, the bronze continued an impressive individual season. Earlier in 2026, he became European champion in the K1 200m in Montemor-o-Velho, defeating Portugal’s Messias Baptista by just 0.075 seconds in a closely contested final.

The Spaniard also arrived in Poznań with a strong European Games pedigree. At Kraków-Małopolska 2023, he joined Saúl Craviotto, Marcus Cooper Walz and Rodrigo Germade in winning the men’s K4 500m title, finishing ahead of Ukraine and Serbia. Arévalo was also chosen as one of Spain’s flagbearers for the Opening Ceremony, alongside beach handball player Patricia Encinas.

Three years after standing on top of the European Games podium as part of Spain’s K4 crew, Arévalo has demonstrated that he remains capable of competing for major honours in both team and individual events. His latest bronze formed part of a successful Spanish campaign in Poznań and provided another example of a Kraków 2023 champion continuing to make an impact on the world stage.