Billy and Betsy were both on the ground in Győr, Hungary for the 2025 World Championships which treated fans to thrilling races, surprising upsets, and tactical genius.

First up: the most exciting races. As incredible as it is to see one paddler dominate a race from start to finish, or see a crew that hasn’t lost a world title in years earn one more to keep up their streak… The best races have unexpected drama, tension, and uncertainty. The most exciting races are the ones where you don’t know who’s going to win until they’ve crossed the finish line. Where a Spanish crew who finished 4th in 2024 returns to take gold ahead of Hungarian on their home turf, because they’ve spent the last year perfecting their sprint finish after it cost them a medal last year. Where a paddler who hadn’t had an international medal from 2019-2025 earns a podium spot by sacrificing a wash and paddling for miles alone to prevent the woman behind her from catching up.

From debating and deciding which races have earned the “Most Exciting” title, Billy and Betsy move onto the stand-out paddlers. Not just the names you know who continued to thrill with their speed and skill, but the up-and-comers who outperformed expectations and started to make a name for themselves on the marathon scene.

Finally, Billy and Betsy reflect on the event – what Billy learned from racing and watching races, the insights Betsy gleaned from interviewing podium paddlers about their races, and how this World Championships will stay with them long after the last fan left the stands.

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