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The classic test of speed and power
In Flatwater Racing sprint events, paddlers race on a straight course, each boat in a separate lane, over three different distances : 200 m, 500 m and 1000 m. In a kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a two-blade paddle, while in a canoe, the paddler is kneeling on one knee, and uses a single blade paddle. There are kayak events, for men and women, in single (K1), double (K2) and four boats (K4), and canoe events for men in single (C1), double (C2) and four boats (C4) and recently also for women.
This form of racing became an Olympic discipline in 1936 and its programme includes events over 200 m and 1000 m for men and 200 m and 500 m for women.
Except of sprint categories canoeists race also in long distances. At World Championships and European Championships these are 5000 m, only single boats are used. Long distances are also very popular for mass competitions, e.g. Sella Descent in Spain.
At the 2025 ECA Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe European Championships in Račice, athletes took an important step beyond competition by voting for their representatives on the newly established ECA Athletes' Committee. Following the earlier selection of canoe slalom athletes Monica Doria (AND) and Michal Martikan (SVK) in Paris, sprint and paracanoe athletes have now chosen their own voices within the European Canoe Association.
Read moreDuring the 2025 ECA Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe European Championships, the ECA's official Timing and Scoring provider Memosoft introduced several novelties.
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