Rebecca Kingsford Claims First Coast To Coast Win

“I finally got it”: Rebecca Kingsford takes out Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest-Day

Rebecca Kingsford has won the women’s 2026 Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day, emerging victorious after a fierce battle with three fellow top female competitors.

The close battle with Hannah Lund, Deborah Lynch and Thea Taylor lasted almost 13 hours.

But despite multiple swims due to falling from her kayak and carrying injuries into the event, Kingsford surged in the second half of the race to claim the title.

Today marked Kingsford’s fifth Kathmandu Coast to Coast attempt, following a thirdplace finish in 2023.

The 35yearold Christchurch-based athlete arrived this year with a clear focus on climbing the podium. She climbed to the top with a final time of 12:53:01.

Her trademark strength in the latter stages of the course once again proved decisive as she overtook Lund and pulled away over the final legs.

“Anything can happen in that second half of the race. I always seem to come on strong, and I did that today,” she said.

Kingsford praised her rivals acknowledging how hardfought the battle had been with Lund in particular.

“I thought Hannah was going to get it, she’s an amazing athlete.”

After managing injuries throughout her buildup, Kingsford found her strength late in the day, storming through the final stages to claim the title. Despite a couple falls from the kayak, she held her nerve.

“I had a couple of swims and thought Hannah was probably going to get it, but when I saw her at Woodstock I knew I just had to put some time into her.”

As the reality of the achievement starts to settle, she summed up the moment simply:

“I f#$king did it. I finally got it.”

“It’ll take a moment to sink in, this one.”

Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day race director Glenn Currie said Rebecca Kingsford’s breakthrough victory was one of the toughest and most determined performances he’d witnessed on the course.

“To see Rebecca finally nail it on her fifth attempt is pretty special,” Currie said. “That women’s race was absolutely stacked — Hannah Lund, Deborah Lynch and Thea Taylor pushed each other all day, and it was on right to the back half of the course.”

Currie said Kingsford’s resilience defined the day, particularly after multiple kayak swims and managing injuries coming into the event.

“She had every reason to let it slip — a couple of swims, some tough moments early — but she just refused to let go of it. That’s what this race is about. Anything can happen in that second half, and Rebecca showed exactly why she’s so dangerous there.”

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