Slalom Canoeing at 2008 Summer Games: Canoeing is a water sport event. In the event, a canoe or kayak is paddled using only human muscle power. Canoes and kayaks were used in the ancient days as a means of traveling, hunting and fishing. Generally, kayaks are closed decked boats and canoes are open decked. In modern canoeing sport, both canoes and kayaks may be closed-decked. The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is authorized to govern the sport of canoeing at the international level.
In the slalom canoeing event, participants have to paddle the boats through pairs of poles. These poles are called “gates”. The paddlers have to pass 20 to 25 gates placed through a distance of 300 meter course.
Slalom Canoeing in the Summer Games: The slalom canoeing event for both men and women were included in the Olympic schedule at the 1972 Munich Summer Games. The events have been held regularly at the Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Categories of Slalom Canoeing: The categories of slalom canoeing event held in the Summer Games are—
C-1 (canoe single) for men
C-2 (canoe double) for men
K-1 (kayak single) for men
K-1 (kayak single) for women
Rules of Slalom Canoeing: The International Canoe Federation or ICF has set the rules for the slalom canoeing event. Some of the rules followed during the international competitions are—
- The ICF has specified the structure of the canoes and kayaks used during the race.
- The paddlers are permitted to paddle the boats using only muscle power. Use of any other propelling device is not allowed.
- A number of judges are appointed to monitor the whole event. The judges also are bound to follow the ICF rules for the event.
- A stop watch or a fully electric timing device has to be used during the slalom canoeing event.
- To hold a race, minimum three canoers or kayakers have to enter the competition.
- When the number of entries is more than nine, heats are arranged for selection of participants in the next round.
- The race course should be properly marked at the starting and finishing points and the turning points.
- No canoer or kayaker is allowed to use illegal means to win the race. The paddler found guilty can be instantly disqualified from the competition.
- No participant is permitted to use external assistance during the race.
Medal winners in Slalom Canoeing: European countries and Russia have been dominating the field of slalom canoeing since the time of its advent. Tony Estanguet, Michal Martikan, Stefan Pfanmoller, Benoit Peschier, Campbell Walsh, Fabien Lefevre, Markus Oscarsson and Henrik Nilson are the male canoers who excelled in the slalom canoeing event at the Olympics. Natasa Janic, Josefa Idem Guerrini, Caroline Brunet, Elena Kaliska, Rebecca Giddens, Josefa Idem, Caroline Brunet, Rita Koban, Helen Reeves and Stepanka Hilgertova are the female canoers leading the field of slalom canoeing at Olympic level.
