World Championship win in Wisconsin, But Chile's Fernando Navarro Still Seeks Canicross's True Test in Europe

For many athletes, becoming a world champion is the ultimate destination. For Fernando Navarro of Chile, even winning a junior world title wasn't enough. Having captured gold in canicross at the IFSS Dryland World Championships in Wisconsin while adding a silver medal in dog scooter, Navarro is now turning his ambition toward a new, more formidable frontier: the hyper-competitive circuits of Europe.

Navarro, who competes for the Aurora austral husky club under the governance of the Federación Deportiva Chilena (FDC), delivered a strong performance in Minocqua, Wisconsin from October 21-26, 2025. In the 1.8km junior canicross race, he posted an 11:25.0 total time to claim gold, winning both heats. In the 3.7km junior dog scooter event, he earned silver with a time of 19:29.0, finishing behind Canada's Ima Lepage.

Yet rather than viewing these results as a career peak, Navarro sees them as confirmation that he's ready for the next challenge. "I find that I am now at one of the highest points of my career, having achieved everything as a junior," Navarro stated before the championships. That assessment proved prescient, but for Navarro, it was never about contentment. In one year, he will graduate to the senior elite category, a transition that brings a significant increase in the level of competition. For Navarro, this impending challenge is not a cause for concern, but a catalyst for continued growth.

A New Objective Forged from Achievement

Having secured a junior world title and reached the podium in multiple disciplines, Navarro has recalibrated his definition of success. His focus has shifted from accumulating championships to pursuing mastery against the sport's most established competitors. "My main objective was always to be world champion, and I achieved it," he explained. "Now my objective is to get closer to the roots of the sport."

In the world of canicross, those roots are planted firmly in European soil. Navarro acknowledges the continental advantage with clear-eyed analysis. "In Europe, the level is different, as they have many more years of advantage," he said. This historical head start has created a deeper pool of talent and a higher competitive standard. Rather than being intimidated, Navarro is drawn to it. "I would like to start competing there to be able to improve every day," he affirmed. His goal is no longer simply to win, but to be tested at the highest possible level, to be pushed by generations of European competitive tradition, and ultimately, to discover the best version of himself as an athlete.

From Wisconsin Success to European Ambition

Navarro's performance in Wisconsin—claiming gold in canicross with his 11:25.0 and earning silver in dog scooter—has given him the credentials to pursue his European ambitions. These results weren't just podium finishes; they were validation that he can compete at the world level across multiple sleddog disciplines.

The journey of Fernando Navarro, which can be followed on his Instagram account, @Fernando.araucania.canicross, offers a compelling narrative in modern sport. It is the story of an athlete who achieved his dream in Wisconsin and, instead of resting on those laurels, immediately created a bigger challenge. His ambition demonstrates that for some competitors, the greatest prize is not a medal—even a world championship gold—but the relentless pursuit of improvement against the highest possible standard. As he prepares to transition to senior elite competition and eventually take on the European circuit, Navarro is not just chasing opponents; he is chasing the absolute limit of his own potential.