Klaudia Zwolińska, Female Competition Paddler of the Year – 2025 Paddlers Awards Winners

For our first year presenting the Competition Paddler of the Year Award, we are hyped to announce Klaudia Zwolińska as the 2025 winner in the female category.

The Polish Olympic medalist slalom paddler struck gold in both K1 and C1 at the World Championships in Penrith, Australia, holding a four and a half second lead in C1. And she also claimed in kayak cross. With this run, Klaudia became one of the rare athletes in history to medal in all three events at one world championships, and only the second paddler ever to win gold in both K1 and C1 at the same competition.

The Competition Paddler of the Year Award shines a light on the competitive heart of our sport and gives us a chance to recognize the very best at the end of the season. It celebrates world champions in slalom, freestyle, and extreme kayaking, as well as paddlers who dominate World Cups or put together flawless racing. With her clean sweep at the most recent slalom world championships, Klaudia has done exactly that, and with style.