The 21-year-old clinched an incredible victory in the men’s U23 K1 event in a time of 84.12 seconds to add to add to his illustrious kayak collection.

It means that he has now won gold in all four U23 kayaking events, with Kayak Cross gold in 2023 and Kayak Cross individual and team golds in 2025.

Despite hitting gate 17 of the course, a strong run saw him soar to the top of the standings and take the win, as Spain’s Faust Clotet Juanmarti took silver and Italy’s Michele Pistoni completed the podium with bronze.

“I don’t know what to say, I am just so happy,” he said. “Thank you to everyone at home who has helped me with this.

“I knew the run was really good, but I didn’t know I had a touch until the end and so wasn’t really celebrating.

“When people started to go behind me, I realised it was a good time, and I might get a medal.

“I didn't think I would win as Xabier Ferrazzi was still to come and he is really good, but then he started to mess up.

“It didn’t really feel real, it felt like it all just happened in two seconds.

Leaver’s will not have long to celebrate, as he returns home on Friday evening ahead of his flight to Oklahoma, USA for the senior World Championships which begin at the end of July.

The Brit has impressed on the World Cup circuit this season, with Kayak Cross individual gold in Tacen.

He was joined in the U23 final in Krakow by Jonah Hanrahan, who was making his World Championship K1 final debut having qualified in 11th place.

He ultimately missed two gates in the showpiece to finish 13th overall but will take confidence as he continues chasing final appearances, as Thomas Mayer finished 25th in the semi-finals.

Sid Griffiths placed sixth in the men’s junior K1 final to bring day four’s action to a close.

With a clean run in Poland, the paddler crossed the finish in 90.96s in what was his second final of the competition so far.

Helena Nabili backed up her ninth-place performance in the women’s junior K1 semi-final with the same result in the last 12.

Despite hitting six gates on the way down, Nabili was thrilled to reach the final on her World Championship debut.

“I enjoyed being able to get out on the water and experience the world champs for the first time,” she said.

“I am proud of being able to make it to the final and enjoyed it.”

Olwen Yates finished 18th in the women’s junior K1 semi-final in a time of 116.36 as Alex Cleator and Jake Mitchell finished 16th and 23rd respectively in the men’s junior semi-final.

Macy Kang placed 29th overall in the U23 K1 semi-finals after missing gate 14 on the course.

Catch up on all the results from across the competition here.