CANOEING

Canoeing is a general term that covers two types of boat and many disciplines.

At Olympic level there are only 2 disciplines on the programme; Sprint and Slalom.  Canoes, known by the designation ‘C’ and Kayaks known by ‘K’ are used in both. Canoes use a single-ended paddle to propel or control the boat, where as Kayaks use double ended paddles. Canoeists kneel in their boats which can be singles or doubles (C1 and C2), whereas Kayakers sit and use single, double of 4 person boats (K1, K2 and K4).

Sprint, is raced on a flatwater course over 1000m or 200m, was introduced at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936.  Up to 9 boats race in a straight line, marked by buoys. Usually a paddler (as the athletes are known within the sport) must progress through heats and semi finals to reach the final.  First, second and third across the finish line decide the medals.

Slalom, on the other hand, is a competition of timed runs on a rough water course where the paddler (only a individual, there are no crew boats in Slalom) must try to negotiate their way through ‘gates’ (sets of poles hanging at strategic points over the course) in the correct order and without touching the gates. Paddlers with the fastest times progress from heats and semi-finals through to the final.

National Federation: Canoe Ireland

International Federation: International Canoe Federation

CANOEING NEWS

PERMANENT TSB FLAGBEARERS NAMED FOR KRAKOW 2023

Tokyo Olympians Sarah Lavin & Liam Jegou to carry Flag at European Games Opening Ceremony   Tokyo Olympians Sarah Lavin and Liam Jegou have been named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland as the Permanent TSB Team Ireland Flagbearers for the European Games in Krakow this month. The multi-sport Games will see 121 athletes compete […]

Nine Strong Team of Canoeists to Compete at European Games

Team Ireland will have strong representation in the Canoeing events at the European Games in Krakow, with eight Canoe Slalom athletes and one Canoe Sprint athlete named by the Olympic Federation of Ireland today. Jenny Egan is the sole competitor to race in the Canoe Sprint, which runs from 22 – 24 June, while six […]

AFTERNOON ROUND-UP FOR TEAM IRELAND ON DAY THREE OF TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES

Three Irish athletes were in action in Tokyo this afternoon, with boxer Michaela Walsh defeated by long-time foe Irma Testa of Italy in her Women’s Feather Round of 16 bout earlier. Canoeist Liam Jegou also lost out in the semi-finals of the Canoe Slalom, finishing out in 15th place – outside of the top 10 […]

PUSPURE POWERS INTO OLYMPIC SEMI-FINAL

In her third Olympic Games, the current World Champion in the Women’s Singles Sanita Puspure won her quarter-final in impressive style in today’s race in Tokyo, and will now compete in the semi-final A/B next Tuesday.  The Women’s Pair of Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley and the Lightweight Women’s Double of Margaret Cremen and Aoife […]

SELECTED ATHLETES

Liam Jegou

Liam JegouCANOE - SLALOM BIOGRAPHY Liam grew up in Ballyvaughan Co Clare but moved to France, aged seven, when his French dad, a canoe instructor, got a job there. He won silver at the World Junior Championships in 2014 and bronze at World U23s in 2019. He was ninth at Europeans in 2019 and, that [...]

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