Canoeing: the Gaubert sisters vice-world champions!

A historic feat for the two French athletes Clara and Esla Gaubert, beaten by only a hundredth of a second in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Sisters Clara and Elsa Gaubert marked the 2026 World River Downhill Championships by winning a silver medal in the two-seater canoe sprint (C2). Held from May 20 to 23 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the competition brought together the world elite of the discipline on the technical and fast waters of the Vrbas River.

Selected for the French team for the 2026 season, Clara Gaubert in kayak (K1) and Elsa Gaubert in canoe (C1) achieved their best international performance by finishing vice-world champions together.

A world final lost by a hundredth of a second

The C2 sprint final offered a scenario as spectacular as it was cruel. The two French women failed just 0.01 seconds from the world title won by the Italians, also sisters in life.

A tiny difference which inevitably leaves some regrets, but which does not detract from the performance achieved by the two sportswomen. The result of an entire year of preparation, this world medal rewards their complementarity, their commitment and their ability to perform under pressure in a race of less than a minute.

Elsa Gaubert at the foot of the world podium

Individually, Elsa Gaubert confirms her status among the best skaters on the planet by securing a fourth place in the world in C1.

The competition was more difficult for Clara Gaubert in the kayak sprint. During the second qualifying round, a trajectory error in the first waves compromised his chances. Despite a strong comeback, she finished in 25th place in this round and missed qualification for the final.

A meeting with the public on the Leyre Delta

Behind these world performances lies a reality: like many athletes in non-professional disciplines, Clara and Elsa Gaubert have to finance a significant part of their sporting season.

This year again, French competitors had to contribute financially to their international participation, with nearly 1,200 euros requested to represent France in major competitions. The two sportswomen are therefore continuing their search for partners in order to reconcile training, professional activity and international competitions.

To help finance her season, Clara Gaubert will organize a “Sunset” outing on June 18 on the Leyre Delta in partnership with the company Coup de Pagaie.

The event will allow the public to discover river descent, to chat with the vice-world champion and to admire her medal as well as her competition equipment.

Find all the news from Clara and Elsa Gaubert and all the news from the town of Teich on www.tvba.fr