The 2026 IWWF Europe & Africa +35 Waterski Championships took place in Fischlham, Austria, bringing together experienced waterskiers from across Europe to compete in slalom, trick skiing and jumping across the senior age categories.
The championships provided an opportunity for Irish athletes to represent their country at international level and compete against some of the strongest skiers in their respective age groups.
Irish Participation and Results
Ireland was represented by four competitors at the championships:
Rick Deegan
Graeme McKibbin
Brid Deegan
Dianne Kirby
The Irish team competed against strong international opposition, representing Ireland with distinction.
The standout performance came from Dianne Kirby, who achieved an exceptional result, winning three gold medals and one silver medal across the championships.
Dianne’s results were:
Gold – Jump
Gold – Tricks
Gold – Overall
Silver – Slalom
Winning gold in Jump, Tricks and Overall, alongside a silver medal in Slalom, represents an outstanding all-round performance and a significant achievement for Irish waterskiing. Her Overall gold is particularly noteworthy, recognising her combined performance across the three disciplines.
Conclusion
The Irish Waterski & Wakeboard Federation congratulates Dianne Kirby on her remarkable success at the 2026 IWWF Europe & Africa +35 Waterski Championships. Her three gold medals and silver medal are a tremendous achievement and a source of pride for the Federation and Irish waterskiing.
The Federation also congratulates Rick Deegan, Graeme McKibbin and Brid Deegan on their participation and for representing Ireland at this international event.
The Irish team's involvement demonstrates the continued commitment of Irish athletes to international competition and highlights the importance of supporting participation and achievement across all age categories within the sport.
The Federation is proud of its athletes and their contribution to maintaining Ireland’s presence on the international waterskiing stage.
