Back to Competition: Angie Leroux Returns for the 2026 European Ocean Racing Championships

From discovering paddling at the age of 14 in Brest to competing on the international circuit, becoming a mother, and eventually returning to racing, Angie Leroux’s journey has always been closely connected to the ocean. Now, 22 years after first stepping into a kayak in Brest, she is preparing to compete at the European Championships in Ocean Racing, taking place from 26 to 30 August 2026, with a place on the podium among her wildest dreams

How did paddling first come into your life?

I would say paddling came to me. As a kid, I had the chance to try lots of different sports, basketball, swimming, archery, track and field, horse riding… As I was living in Brest, a city with such a strong link to the sea, every pupil had the opportunity to practise a nautical sport, either sailing or paddling.

One day, I came home from school and told my mum that I wanted to change sport. That’s how I arrived at Le CKB, Canoë Kayak Brestois. I was 14 years old. Since then, I have developed a deep love for the sea and water in general. That love has never left me, even today, as it has become an integral part of my job. This journey has been, and continues to be, incredible. I’ve met so many lovely people, discovered so many magnificent places, and paddled on seas and rivers, each one more beautiful than the last and my husband, as a bonus!

What has paddling given you beyond competition?

This sport, just like the people who introduced me to it, is an integral part of who I am. It has shaped me as a person, helped me overcome difficult times in my personal life, and given me a second family, built on values such as respect, solidarity, mutual support, discipline and, above all, humility. The ocean will always be stronger. We practise the sport individually in our surfskis, but for me, it is inseparable from team spirit.

Looking back, which races and moments have stayed with you the most?

It’s funny because I wouldn’t say that I’ve built a strong career. I always kind of minimise things, and maybe also because I never won a World Championship! But there are definitely races that come to mind, some that I won and others that I didn’t, but that still feel like victories in their own way.

I think the race that really introduced me to paddling at a high level was the Durban World Cup in 2009. I’ll never forget it. Over 26 kilometres, Michelle Eray was 26 minutes ahead, and there was also this massive shorebreak at the end that destroyed loads of surfskis! I remember very clearly telling myself that I would have to understand and change a lot of things when I got back to France if I wanted to improve my paddling.

That’s also why I lived in Fish Hoek for six months in 2012. That was probably my best paddling experience ever. Then I had my first World Championships in Porto in 2013, where I won the U23 silver medal behind Teneale. That was important because today I can say I was there for the first “official” World Championships, but also because it made me realise that maybe I could paddle fast.

I also think back to my last European Championships in 2021, where I finished third behind Judit and Chloé. My little boy had just turned one. Returning to competition after my maternity leave was a real challenge, and sharing that experience as a family remains a wonderful memory. I also loved competing in all the World Cup events around the world, discovering incredible places from the sea and meeting people from all over the world who share the same passion. Looking back at all those memories, I realise just how lucky I’ve been to live out my passion to the full.

You’ve raced across many different paddling disciplines. What do you enjoy about moving between them?

I have paddled in a lot of disciplines, and I think paddling is such a fun sport because all you need is water, whether it’s salt water or fresh water. What I find most interesting is how you can transfer skills between different disciplines.

What I’ve learnt on the river helps me on the ocean, while my surfing experience has helped me in marathon or flat water when it is choppy. Today, I’m focusing on Ocean Racing. I love the ocean so much! For the European Championships, my goal is the Open Single, and I will also race the Mixed Double with my husband, so that will be a special race as well.

And now you’re heading back to Brest. What makes these European Championships so special for you?

Things have changed a little. I used to be a member of the Canoë Kayak Club Brestois, but for the last six years, perhaps longer, I’ve been living in Clohars-Carnoët, in southern Brittany, and my club is now CKCQ, Canoë Kayak Club Quimperlé.

It’s an incredible place to paddle, ocean paddling, river paddling, flat water, wave ski… It’s a place to come and discover. But I’m digressing! This is a special race for me because this is where it all began 22 years ago. Oh my, it feels strange to write that!

Brest is an incredible place to learn surfski. It’s a safe spot, with easy waves, and it can be paddled in almost any conditions, even during our big storms. But it is also a place you need to leave to keep improving. That’s why L’Estran Ploudalmézeau is so special. Paddling there is such a rewarding experience. The sea is wild, with strong currents and rocks, and it’s full of stories. I really think that once you’ve learnt to paddle there, you can paddle anywhere.

You know the area well. Do you think racing on home waters gives you an advantage?

I’d say I’m quite familiar with the area. I’m not so used to paddling in this particular spot anymore, though.

Naturally, I’m partly familiar with the place, so I think that’s definitely an advantage. But these days, the level is so high that you can’t rely on that supposed advantage. What’s certain is that it is a wild place, and we’ll have to adapt to the conditions on the day. It’s a completely different playing field depending on the conditions!

After several years away from international racing, how are you approaching this comeback?

It’s been a really special year for me. I decided to return to competition last year specifically to prepare for this season. So just getting back to this level is already a great personal achievement.

I also know that since the 2021 European Championships, my last proper race on the international circuit after the birth of my little boy, the standard has only gone up and the athletes on the circuit are very strong. To be honest, I have no idea where I stand compared to the other women. What I do know is that I’ve trained hard, I’ve put a lot of work into making my comeback, and I’m lucky to have the support of my family, which is what allows me to live my dream. I enjoy the journey of the sporting project just as much as the final competition itself.

This race will, above all, be a race against myself to stay focused and give my best. Now, in my wildest dreams, I’m aiming for the podium. But that doesn’t depend only on me. That’s the beauty of sport: you’re not much without competing against others!

What will you be racing in Brest?

I paddle in a surfski made by O’krea Kayaks, which is the brand my husband set up. He closed his business just before the COVID crisis, but I’m convinced his story with O’krea isn’t quite over yet. He’d really like to get something going again. He still has the moulds, so he continues making them for us. This year, I’ve got a pink surfski, which is easy to spot on the water!

I’m paddling in the XO, a surfski that combines all the qualities I’m looking for in a race like the European Championships: stability, speed and manoeuvrability. It lets me have fun and play in the waves, just as I like to do. It’s not always easy to find a surfski that suits you, especially if you’re on the smaller side. The XO is one of the few that is perfectly suited to my build and offers incredible ergonomics. I use a Jantex S Minus paddle, and I’m also lucky enough to be supported by Vaikobi, so I’m perfectly equipped with gear suited to our sport.

Once Brest is over, what’s next?

I think these European Championships are really my main goal. It’s both a race to gauge my form after several years away and the goal itself. It’s a new challenge to tackle, and I think it will help me test my current form and, as a result, the rest of my goals for the season. In any case, I’m also preparing for the World Championships in Spain. It’s a place I particularly like for surfski and the atmosphere. The Spanish team is very strong, and it’s always a pleasure to catch up with friends. And the little bonus I’d love to take part in is the World Cup in Réunion Island. But in that case, it’s more the financial aspect that’s going to put a damper on that dream.

After 22 years of paddling, Angie Leroux is returning to the place where her story began. The European Championships in Brest will be more than another race on the calendar. They represent a chance to measure her comeback against some of the best paddlers in Europe, surrounded by the waters that first introduced her to the sport.

For now, her objective is simple: enjoy the journey, stay focused and give her best. And perhaps, if everything comes together on the day, turn that wildest dream of a podium on home waters into reality.

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