Duisburg's resident, Chinette Lauridsen, kicks off the Parakanu World Championships.
Chinette Karin Lauridsen, a resilient athlete from Germany, clinched the gold medal in the women's VL1 event at the 2025 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Paracanoe World Championships held in Milan, Italy, from August 20 to 24, 2025.
Lauridsen's victory was particularly noteworthy as she overcame her ongoing challenge with muscle spasms, which make seating and maneuvering the canoe difficult for her. In a thrilling race, she overtook the reigning women's VL1 world champion Viktoryia Pistis Shablova of Italy on home water, finishing in 1:06.99 to deny Italy a home gold. Pistis Shablova had to settle for silver.
The 2025 Paracanoe World Championships in Milan
The event took place at the Idroscalo Regatta Course in Milan and brought together over 800 athletes from nearly 70 nations, including Paralympic and Olympic champions from the recent Paris 2024 Games. This edition was the first World Championship after the 2024 Paralympics, featuring 12 medal events in Para canoe. The competition spotlighted both established stars and rising talents in the sport, fostering international elite-level competition.
Lauridsen's Journey and Future Plans
Expressing surprise and the need to process her win, Lauridsen indicated she believes she has further potential in the sport. Winning gold in this world championship event reinforces her status among the top Para canoe athletes globally.
While details about her club or future plans are not explicit, her competitive success at the World Championships and the ongoing support from Germany’s canoeing federation suggest continued pursuit at international levels. Given the proximity of the next scheduled Paracanoe World Championships dates—May 2026 in Italy and August 2026 in Poland—Lauridsen is likely to prepare for these upcoming major events to defend or enhance her standing.
Support and Training
Lauridsen is currently training with the inclusive club Bertasee Duisburg. The North Rhine-Westphalia Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association and the German Canoe Association (DKV) have provided financial support for her participation in international competitions this year. National coach André Brendel, also from Duisburg, is supporting Lauridsen intensively.
Before switching to paracanoe, Lauridsen had previously competed in various parasports, including one where she won a Paralympic gold medal.
In summary, Chinette Lauridsen’s breakthrough gold in Milan highlights both her personal resilience and Germany’s strength in Paracanoe, with promising prospects for upcoming championships and continued growth in the sport’s community. Bertasee Duisburg aims to establish paracanoe long-term and is working towards building a statewide paracanoe performance center together with Duisburg-Sport in the Sportpark Wedau. Lauridsen's participation in the World Championships is seen as a sporting highlight and a confirmation of Bertasee Duisburg's commitment to para-sports.
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