Canoeing: The Olympic Version
8 Aug
The typical weekend canoe-camper probably doesn’t think of her activity in Olympic terms. But, canoeing is indeed a sport on the Olympic program, even if the action doesn’t exactly resemble the experience of the rank-and-file paddling set.
Olympic canoeing includes flatwater and whitewater disciplines. The flatwater events are contested over 500 and 1,000 meter distances — sprints as it were — for both singles and pairs. The whitewater canoe races are also contested for singles and doubles, on a constructed watercourse. Whitewater canoeists race in kayaks, but paddle with single-bladed “canoe” paddles.
Appallingly, the Olympics only host canoe events for men. Women are only allowed to paddle kayaks in Olympic competition. The sport is dominated by Europeans, but Sports Illustrated did pick Canadian Thomas Hall to win a silver medal in the 1,000 meter flatwater event.
The NBC Olympic web site, HERE, offers lots of information, images, and video clips of the Olympic version of our favorite pastime. Canoe competition begins on Monday with singles whitewater competition — C-1 in the Olympic parlance.
You can find the compete schedule for Canoe/Kayak events HERE.
