Ariadne Giménez, from Lanzarote and a member of the Marlines Canoeing Club, has made history at the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships 2025, held in Durban, South Africa, from October 11 to 21. The 17-year-old paddler won the world silver medal this Saturday in the Junior Mixed SS2 category alongside her partner Pau Sánchez, from the La Vila Joiosa Nautical Club.
The Spanish duo successfully completed a demanding 29-kilometer journey, with waves between two and three meters high and breakers that tested the technique and courage of all participants. In a course of pure South African downwind, Ariadne and Pau maintained a very high performance from beginning to end, which allowed them to climb to the second tier of the podium and consolidate Spain among the world powers of sea kayaking in the Junior category.
Far from resting, just 24 hours later Ariadne returned to the water to compete in the Women's SS1 Junior (individual), completing another 35 kilometers in even harsher conditions: winds of over 30 knots and waves of more than three meters. Despite the wear and tear, she achieved a commendable fourth place worldwide, just two minutes away from the podium in a race marked by starts and finishes on beaches with strong surf.
"It has been the hardest and most beautiful weekend of my life," Ariadne confessed after crossing the finish line. "Saturday with Pau was incredible; we understood each other from the first moment and enjoyed every wave. On Sunday, alone in the SS1, the sea was wild, but I was only thinking about arriving, about moving forward and giving everything for my club, for my family, and for the Canary Islands. I am left with the feeling of having given everything and having learned a lot. It has been a World Championship that I will never forget."
In total, the Lanzarote native completed more than 70 kilometers in less than 48 hours, demonstrating extraordinary physical and mental strength in an ocean as spectacular as it is wild, populated by sharks, dolphins, and whales.
From the Marlines Club, based in Arrecife, they have emphasized the enormous merit of their youngest athlete, who at only 17 years old has taken the name of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands to the world podium, establishing himself as one of the great international promises of sea kayaking.
The club also congratulated the Spanish National Team, which delivered an outstanding performance in South Africa, with a total of 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze medal:
Gold for Andrea Jiménez in SS1 Junior Women's
Bronze for Julián St. Mary in SS1 Junior Men's
Silver for Sara Mengual and Pablo St. Mary in SS2 Mixed U23
Silver for Ariadne Giménez and Pau Sánchez in SS2 Mixed Junior
"Ariadne has shown that with work, perseverance, and passion, any wave can be challenged. Her performance in Durban marks a turning point for our club and for canoeing in Lanzarote," highlighted the technical direction of Marlines.
With this new success, the Lanzarote club—undefeated nationally in the Young Promises category since 2017—once again places the Canary Islands in the international elite, reaffirming its role as a breeding ground for talent and a benchmark in the training of paddlers with global potential.
