Learn More About Canoe/Kayak

Canoe/Kayak at the Olympic Games

A demonstration event occurred in 1924 in Paris, but it wasn't until 1936 when both canoeing and kayaking entered the Summer Games. The French Olympic Committee requested that Canada organize the races; this initial run included the Canadian Canoe Association and the Washington Canoe Club from the United States.

The standard length for the races usually fall between 500m and 1000m, but for the first 20 years of competition, there were also 10km events. In 2009, the International Canoe Federation decided to replace the 500m races with the 200m, and include a women's 200m by 2012.

What are the current Olympic canoe/kayak events?

The events for each sport have simple labels based on the number of athletes competing. The sprint events include men's C-1 1000m, men's C-2 1000m, women's C-1 1000m, women's C-2 1000m, men's K-1 200m, men's K-1 1000m, men's K-2 1000m, women's K-1 200m, women's K-1 500m, women's K-2 500m, K-4 500m. Current slalom events include men's C-1, men's K-1, and women's K-1.

The following events will join the competition in 2020: men's K-4 500m, women's C-1 200m, women's C-2 500m, and women's C-1 slalom.

Visit American Canoe Association to learn more