Despite a torrential downpour, Central Coast kayakers shone on the final day of the 2025 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships in Milan recently.
Natalia Drobet of Avoca Beach won two silvers in 24 hours – first in the K1 500 and then in the K2 500 with partner Kaily Harlen from the northern beaches.
The medals capped off a huge international season for the 20 year old, who also won gold in the K1 500 at the U23 & Junior World Championships last month.
“I feel very happy; I couldn’t ask for much more,” Drobot said.
“It’s just so nice that the hard work has paid off and we were able to put together good races and finish off the season really well.
“I’m going to be taking a little break now but looking forward to building on this year and making sure we can continue to step up.”
In the men’s paracanoe, Paris silver medallist and fellow Avoca club member Dylan Littlehales delivered a bronze medal in the Men’s KL2 200.
Originally wanting to take a year off while he finished his post graduate honours in psychology, Littlehales’ short lead-in time didn’t stop him producing a strong final and put him in the box seat for the next Paralympic cycle.
“At the start of this year I was just hoping to get in the middle of that A Final,” he said.
“Usually the year after the Paralympic Games you see a drop off in the level of competition … but it’s a very hot field at the moment.
“It’s going to be a very tough [Paralympic] cycle, so to start it off with a top three at the World Championships is a good feeling.
“But there is still a lot of work to be done.”
The medal win coincided with a special milestone for Littlehales.
With seven years to go until the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games, and with three Paralympic Games under his belt at the age of 25, he isn’t ruling out a Brisbane tilt.
“At the moment I’m just focused on getting through the domestic season, then (I’ll) focus on the next World Championships, punch through to LA2028 and see where we’re at after that,” he said.
“It’s always been the dream to finish my career at Brisbane 2032 ever since it got announced.
“I’d be 32 years old, going to my fifth Paralympic Games, maybe finish with a gold and walk off into the sunset.”
Australia finished their ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships campaign with six medals in total.
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