The US and Canada have named their athletes to compete in canoe and kayak events at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio.
Eleven athletes have been named to represent Canada by Canoe Kayak Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The two Olympic paddling disciplines are canoe sprint and canoe slalom and the Paralympic discipline is canoe sprint. The sprint and paracanoe events are endurance and speed-focused racing events, while canoe slalom sees paddlers navigate gates and currents on a timed whitewater course.
Out of those named for the sprint team, three medalists from the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be headed to Rio. One of the most notable names in the sport is four-time Olympic medalist and Ontario native Adam van Koeverden. This will be van Koeverden’s fifth games. Olympic bronze medalists Mark de Jonge and Mark Oldershaw were also named.
The women’s kayak team will be led by French Canadian Émilie Fournel in her third Olympic Games.
Christine Gauthier and Erica Scarff will compete in paracanoe events. Gauthier is a five-time Paracanoe World Champion and will compete in the KL2 200 meter and Scarff will compete in the KL3 200 meter.
Canada’s full roster and events for the summer games is:
RELATED: A video on the sport of sprint canoe and kayak
Competing for the US in slalom will be Casey Eichfeld in men’s single canoe, Michal Smolen in men’s single kayak and Ashley Nee in women’s single kayak. Devin McEwan and Casey Eichfeld will compete together in men’s double canoe. Maggie Hogan will compete in the sprint in women’s single kayak.
Alana Nichols and Kelly Allen have both qualified for the US Paralympic Team. Nichols is the first women to win gold medals in both the summer and winter Paralympic Games for alpine skiing and wheelchair basketball. Paracanoe will be her third sport at her fifth Paralympics.
The canoe slaslom competition will take place August 7 to 11, the sprint events August 15 to 20 and paracanoe events September 14 to 15.
Read more about Team USA here and Team Canada here.
