ICF Press Release - Canoe sprint paddlers from every corner of the globe are descending on Milan, Italy for the first 2014 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup of the season that will be contested from the 2-5 May.

The entry boasts many World and Olympic Champions including New Zealand's Lisa Carrington, Germany's Sebastian Brendal, Canada's Adam Van Koeverden and Australia's Ken Wallace, who have each won both.

There is also the addition of Paracanoe events with many of those in attendance harbouring aspirations of making the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where the discipline is set to debut.

New Zealanders lead the charge

The shinning light across the women's kayak events is undoubtably Carrington who managed to pick up gold in every K1 200m event she entered in 2013. Last season the 24-year-old also added 500m to her repertoire and stormed to victory in two of the three ICF World Cups, plus collected bronze and the World Championships in Duisburg, Germany. She arrives in Italy as hot favourite in both events.

Other contenders over the shorter 200m and 500m distances are Denmark's Henriette Engel Hansen, South Africa's Bridgitte Hartley, Poland's Marta Walczykiewicz (200m Only) and Germany's Franziska Weber.

Carrington's teammate, Teneale Hatton (NZL) will be the one beat in the K1 5000m after her phenomenal victory at the 2013 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championship where she led from start to finish.

Big Names Ready

The men's event is glittered with big names including many Olympic and World Championship medalists. Amongst them is Canada's Mark Oldershaw who is certainly maximising his chances of reaching the podium by competing over every distance available in the C1 events (200m, 500m, 1000m and 5000m).

The 2012 London Olympic bronze medalist, now 31-years-old, is certainly looking to improve on last season’s results, which were poor by his usual exemplary standards.

Brazil's up-and-coming star, Isaquais Quiroz dos Santos will be looking to start the season in the same rich vein of form he showed in 2013. The 20-year-old C1 500m World Champion will contest the C1 500m, 1000m and 5000m.

Olympic C1 1000m gold medalist, Sebastian Brendel (GER) is also present and will the one to beat over his preferred distance.

In the K1 four names standout from the crowd, Adam Van Koeverden (CAN), Kenny Wallace (AUS) Max Hoff (GER) and René Holten Poulsen (DEN).

Koeverden, who had a quite 2013 season, will contest the K1 500m, 1000m and 5000m. Now 32, the four-time Olympic medalist will be looking reassert himself as a top contender on the world stage.

Australia's Kenny Wallace will be one of Koeverden's main rivals, as the two will go head-to-head in the same events in Milan. The 30-year-old from New South Wales had a brilliant 2013 that included gold in the K1 5000m at the World Championships.

Last year the Germany's Max Hoff started the season in truly dominant form winning the K1 1000m in convincing style. He completed his season with victory in Duisburg at the World Championships over the same distance. The five-time World Champion will certainly be one to watch in the K1 500m and 1000m.

Denmark's René Holten Poulsen, now 25, exploded on the scene at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with silver in the K2 Men 1000m. Since, the powerful paddler from Scandinavia has always threatened to take top honours and was close with silver in the K1 Men 500m at the World Championships last year; perhaps this season will the one where Poulsen fulfills his undoubted potential.

Facts

Poland have the largest number of entrants with 28 athletes, Hungary have 21, whilst Italy will field 20. The youngest competitor is Brenda Rodriguez Gutierrez from Mexico; she will be 16 years and 9 months old when she lines up in the K2 Women 500m. Oldest competitor is Ognjen Filpovic (SRB) who will be 40 years and 6 months old; he is competing in the K2 Men 200m.

Natalya Sergeyeva (KAZ) will celebrate her 38th birthday during Saturday’s action; she is competing in the K1 Women 500m.

This is a truly global event with six continents represented: South America, Oceania, Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.

The Milan course will also host the 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships from the 19-23 August.

Events get underway with the K1 Women 500m starting at 9:00 am CET on Friday 2 May. Finals will be contested on Saturday and Sunday and will be shown LIVE on Eurosport.

For all results click here.

Event website: www.milanworldcanoesprint.com