About The Sport
While flat-water canoe and kayak racing is similar to rowing, slalom events are very specialised and more like downhill mountain-biking requiring quick reactions, timing, dexterity and physical strength.
Athletes travel down a 400m-long slalom course on turbulent white-water river-like rapids, having to stop, hold their position despite the fast currents and turn to adjust their course for the next in the tight, twisting sequence of 20-25 gates.
Events are held for both closed-topped canoes (in which the athletes paddle while kneeling) and kayaks (in which the athletes paddle while sitting). Both men and women compete in kayak singles events, while only men compete in the singles and doubles canoeing events.