Robert Janiszewski and Georgina Collin are aiming to create more memorable moments at one of the world’s iconic white water venues when they represent Australia at this weekend’s ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships in Germany.
Janiszewski, 22, and Collin, 26, are both targeting finals in Augsburg, which hosted the Munich 1972 Olympics and was also the venue for the inaugural Wildwater World Championships in 2011. Augsburg also holds a special memory for Collin, who made her first World Cup final there in 2017.
“I have always loved the Augsburg course, it’s probably my favourite on the circuit,” said Collin, a bronze medallist at the Wildwater Junior World Championships in 2015. “In 2017, I made my first [senior] World Cup final, it was a massive surprise and I’ll never forget the feeling of sitting on that start-line and watching all these girls I’d looked up to for years warming-up and realising I’d be competing against them.
“So, I cannot wait to try and repeat that and make my first final in the World Championships this year. I’ve been really digging in the last two years. I’m the strongest and fittest I’ve ever felt coming into the season, so I can’t wait to see what I can put down.”
Coincidentally, Janiszewski last competed at Augsburg in 2017. The 22-year-old from Melbourne is aiming to make the finals, building momentum towards his main goal for 2023 – his last Under 23 World Championships in Czechia, July 5-9.
“The goal for this event will be to make the finals and hopefully sneak into the top-12, but overall my main goal for the season would be the Under 23 world champs,” Janiszewski said.
“It’s always special to represent Australia, always good to put on the green and gold, especially at the senior level now, stepping up into that new domain for me.
“I’m super excited to race in Augsburg. It’s a pretty unique course, very old school, a somewhat natural river and fast.”
Often described as the fastest discipline in white water racing, Wildwater generally brings together a melting pot of paddlers from canoe slalom, sprint and marathon backgrounds.
“I think with Wildwater it’s just a really good community, really friendly, competitive and always looking out for each other,” Janiszewski said.
Collin will contest the Women’s K1 and Janiszewski the Men’s C1. Heats will be held 6pm (AEST) and 9pm on Saturday, with finals starting 6pm (AEST) Sunday.
The 2023 ICF Wildwater Canoeing World Championships will be livestreamed via the ICF’s new Recast channel – click here
For more details on the event – click here
