By Sara Evans

Wausau Slalom_logo_July_8_July 8 - More than 300 of the world's best young canoe slalom paddlers representing 27 nations will be on the Wisconsin River in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, competing at the 2012 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Junior/Under-23 Canoe Slalom World Championships from July 10 to 15.


Competitors at the Junior World Championships must be between the ages of 15 and 18 - this means that many are too young to compete at London 2012.

However, Australia's Jessica Fox (pictured below) is an exception, taking part in the women's K1 events at both Wausau and this summer's Olympic Games.

For many of the other junior competitors, medaling at the Championships could fast track them for the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro.

The under-23 Canoe Slalom World Championships are for paddlers aged 19 to 23.

Jessica Fox_July_8
Like Fox, Team USA's Caroline Queen and Casey Eichfeld will also fly to London after the conclusion of the under-23 event to represent the US in the women's K1 and men's C1 events respectively.

More than 10,000 spectators are expected to watch the Championships at the venue which has been named by USA Today as one of America's top 10 urban whitewater paddling sites.

Wausau has hosted many international canoe competitions and several other world championship whitewater races, including one other Junior World Championship in 1994.

For more information about the 2012 ICF Junior/Under-23 Canoe Slalom World Championships, click here. 

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