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CANOE SLALOM

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WHAT IS CANOE SLALOM?

Contested in both canoe (C) and kayak (K), canoe slalom athletes navigate a series of upstream and downstream gates throughout a whitewater course. Courses are up to 300 metres in length with a maximum of 25 gates, at least six of which must be upstream. Gates are distinguished by colour – red for upstream and green for downstream, with penalties applied if a gate is touched (two seconds) or missed (50 seconds).
Making its Olympic debut in Paris, Kayak Cross sees four competitors slide off a ramp more than two metres above the water. Racing to navigate both upstream and downstream buoys and a 360 degree roll, this exciting discipline allows contact with buoys and opponents. Penalties can be incurred for breaking the start, missing a buoy, dangerous paddling or failing to complete the roll within the allocated zone.

Things to know

When setting the gate pattern for a whitewater course, designers will aim to make the most of eddies, waves and stoppers to create a challenging and competitive course. No two courses are the same.

Athletes will navigate both upstream and downstream gates in both Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross competitions. The direction of the gate is indicated by its colour, with red gates for upstream and green for downstream.

Olympic History

Canoe Slalom debuted at the 1972 Munich Olympics but would not feature again until its permanent return at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where Danielle Woodward took home the silver medal.

Paris will mark a fourth Olympic Games for Jessica Fox. Jessica took home a silver medal in the K1 at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, before winning her first gold in the C1 in Tokyo.

Things to know

When setting the gate pattern for a whitewater course, designers will aim to make the most of eddies, waves and stoppers to create a challenging and competitive course. No two courses are the same.

Athletes will navigate both upstream and downstream gates in both Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross competitions. The direction of the gate is indicated by its colour, with red gates for upstream and green for downstream.

Olympic History

Canoe Slalom debuted at the 1972 Munich Olympics but would not feature again until its permanent return at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where Danielle Woodward took home the silver medal.

Paris will mark a fourth Olympic Games for Jessica Fox. Jessica took home a silver medal in the K1 at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, before winning her first gold in the C1 in Tokyo.

Key Milestones

1949
The first Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Geneva
1972
Canoe Slalom featured at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games as an introduction sport
1992
The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games featured Canoe Slalom as a core sport for the first time
2020
Women's C1 class made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
2024
Kayak Cross will become an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
1949
The first Canoe Slalom World Championships were held in Geneva
1972
Canoe Slalom featured at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games as an introduction sport
2024
Kayak Cross will become an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
2020
Women's C1 class made it's Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
1992
The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games featured Canoe Slalom as a core sport for the first time

Olympic MEDALLISTS

Name
Year
Event
R. Bell
2008
C1 M
J. Fox
2016
K1 W
J. Fox
2020
K1 W
Name
Year
Event
D. Woodward
1992
K1 W
J. Lawrence
2008
K1 W
J. Fox
2012
K1 W
Name
Year
Event
J. Fox
2020
C1 W
J. Fox
2024
K1 W
J. Fox
2024
C1 W
N. Fox
2024
KX1 W
Name
Year
Event
J. Fox
2020
C1 W
J. Fox
2024
K1 W
J. Fox
2024
C1 W
N. Fox
2024
KX1 W
Name
Year
Event
D. Woodward
1992
K1 W
J. Lawrence
2008
K1 W
J. Fox
2012
K1 W
Name
Year
Event
R. Bell
2008
C1 M
J. Fox
2016
K1 W
J. Fox
2020
K1 W
All olympians
© 2021 Paddle Australia Limited
This site was made with Positive Pixels by Digital Native.
Main image provided by Getty Images (Adam Pretty, 2021).
Additional images by Bence Vekassy/Canoe Photography and Paralympics Australia.
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