The Tana River roared to life today as Sagana, played host to the thrilling opening day of the 2026 World Rafting Cup and the concurrent 2026 African Rafting Championships. The world's best crews navigated the technical rapids, showcasing elite professionalism, synchronized power, and white-water mastery in the high-stakes Sprint discipline.
In the World Rafting Cup standings, the Italian national teams delivered an absolute masterclass on the water. The ITA 1 crew captured the Men’s Sprint crown with a blistering time of 1:28.024, edging out a highly competitive CZE 1 squad and the local favorites, KEN 2. The Italian Women's squad (ITA 1) mirrored this phenomenal success, securing 100 points with a top time of 1:39.027 to finish ahead of AIN 1 and KEN 2. Adding to their incredible day, Italy also took top honors in the Para-Rafting division with a time of 1:33.686 (ITA 1), demonstrating the inclusive, competitive, and globally unified spirit of the sport. In the Mixed discipline, AIN 3 claimed the top spot on the podium.
Meanwhile, in the 2026 African Rafting Championships, the host nation put on a spectacular show for the home crowd. Kenya’s deep roster dominated the regional standings across the board. KEN 2 claimed gold in both the Men's and Women's Sprints, utilizing their intimate knowledge of the Sagana currents to maximum effect. In the Mixed division, KEN 1 led a fierce pack, posting a 1:42.273 to take 100 points, followed closely by KEN 2 and Morocco's MAR 1. The event also highlighted the rapidly growing footprint of outdoor sports across the continent, featuring strong, determined runs from crews representing Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, and South Sudan.
As the competition prepares to transition toward the highly technical RX and Slalom disciplines, the energy on the riverbanks in Kenya is electric. This dual-championship event continues to set the highest international standards for Africa!
@worldrafting
