Franklin wins three medals at Paddle Europe Slalom Championships in Ivrea

Mallory Franklin, the Tokyo Olympic C1 silver medallist, won canoe gold and kayak cross silver at the Paddle Europe Slalom Championships in Ivrea on 27 September 2026, completing her return to action at the event.

Franklin, 32, produced a flawless, penalty-free C1 run of 100.47 seconds to take the title, beating France's Doriane Delassus by 0.03 seconds to claim her third career European C1 crown. Victory marked Franklin's first individual medal since the birth of her daughter and she opened her week in Italy with a bronze medal in the team event.

Reflecting on the result, Franklin said: "It's a really nice way to end the year. It's been a tough one coming back and getting back on the start line," said Franklin. "I've been building throughout the year and it's just a nice way to finish it."

Franklin completed a full set of medals on the final day, progressing through the kayak cross knockout rounds under the floodlights to secure silver behind the Czech Republic's Tereza Kneblova.

Great Britain recorded double success in the kayak cross as two-time Olympic medallist Kimberley Woods took individual gold, winning the morning time trial in 48.02 seconds ahead of Poland's Klaudia Zwolinska.

There was bronze in the men's K1 team event for Ben Haylett, Sam Leaver and Joe Clarke, while the women's C1 team bronze was won by Woods, Franklin and Ellis Miller.

In the men's kayak final, Joe Clarke and Sam Leaver finished fifth and sixth respectively, behind Czech winner Jakub Krejci.

Franklin's results at Ivrea — a team bronze, an individual C1 gold and kayak cross silver — completed her three-medal return at the Paddle Europe Slalom Championships.