Blog Posts: @gregiej

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

9 insights to the Rio 2016 blog series

John Gregory
26 September 2016

This final post reflects on the Rio 2016 blog analytics and assesses how our increasingly online World allowed us to build an online presence for canoeing. 

The Rio 2016 blog could be found on the ICF Planet Canoe website, under the Rio 2016 dropdown. The blog ran for 22 days with 28 posts during between July 24th and August 14th. Here is an account of what transpired and what can be learnt from the exercise.

 

One: Growth of 200% in a 4-year Olympic cycle

The Planet Canoe website showed a 200% growth in audience sessions during the Rio Olympics...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Rio 2016 daily canoe slalom blog index

John Gregory
15 August 2016

Here is a quick reference index back to the 28 posts making up this daily Rio 2016 canoe slalom blog in  chronological order. 

Welcome to the Rio Olympic Canoe Slalom blog

Canoe Slalom Essentials

Rio 2016 Olympic Games Canoe Slalom Qualification

Spectators guide to the X-Park Deodoro whitewater centre

...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Canoe slalom now to Tokyo 2020

John Gregory
13 August 2016

Well, that was fun. What’s next? For now, a look at the remaining 2016 World Cup series, 2017 World Championships and beyond.

The canoe slalom season for 2016 is not quite done yet. We have the ECA Junior & U23 European Championships in Solkan, Slovenia later this month. There are still two remaining races in the 2016 ICF World Cup series in September. Race 4 is in Prague and the final race is in Tacen, Slovakia.

The ICF will continue to bring you news through these races and I will be tweeting results through the World Cup races.

The World...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Most promising paddler award – Jakub Grigar (SVK)

John Gregory
12 August 2016

Our award for most promising paddler goes to 19-year-old, Jakub Grigar from Slovakia. “Hands down”, said USA Canoe Kayak overnight.

Grigar has been astonishingly quick all season. He won a silver medal at the Seu d’Urgell ICF World Cup race. In the Olympics, he was the fastest at the 2nd split in the Olympic heat, he was the winner of the Olympic semi-final and he was the fastest at the 2nd split in the Olympic final.

 

Grigar progression through Rio Olympics ...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Deodoro canoe slalom legacy

John Gregory
12 August 2016

Here we explore what this Rio Olympic event has meant for canoe slalom in Brazil. I have been following the Brazilian team since London 2012.

In 2013, I described them as “young, highly passionate and motivated team who don’t give up”. The Brazilian team has advanced incredibly in the last few years. We have seen them in World Championship semi-finals, a final in C1W, and now an Olympic final, where Pedro Da Silva [aka Pepe Goncalves] finished 6th. It cannot be denied that their rise has been meteoric.

Even before the Games had begun, Goncalves had...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Maialen Chourraut

Canoe Slalom Olympic day 5 review - C2M & K1W

John Gregory
11 August 2016

Ladislav & Peter Skantar maintained Slovakia’s domination as the sunsets on C2M in the Olympics. Maialen Chourraut (ESP) proved beyond doubt that she is the fastest women’s kayak paddler around gates on whitewater. Here is a review of the C2M & K1W semi-finals and finals.

 

C2M – An incredible 4th Olympic gold for Slovakia

 ...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Joe Clarke

Canoe Slalom Olympic day 4 review and day 5 medals preview (C2M & K1W)

John Gregory
10 August 2016

Joe Clarke was crowned as Great Britain’s first K1M Olympic canoe slalom gold medallist. First, a review of the K1M semi-final and final, followed by a preview of what to expect on Thursday for the C2M & K1W semi-finals.

 ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Joe Clarke...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

50 seconds – 2 seconds or clear?

John Gregory
9 August 2016

As canoe slalom evolves to shorter and tighter races with higher stakes then the margins are being shaved ever closer by the athletes. Here we examine the process on how race control determines whether a paddler’s whole head and part of the boat has passed through the gate or whether to award a 50-second penalty. I gained exclusive access behind the scenes during the C2M and K1W heats.

...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom Denis Gargaud Chanut

Canoe Slalom Olympic day 3 review and day 4 K1M medals preview

John Gregory
9 August 2016

Denis Gargaud Chanut was crowned as France’s latest Olympic canoe slalom champion. First, a review of the C1M semi-final and final followed by a preview of what to expect on Wednesday for the K1M semi-final.

 ...Read more

ICF Planet Canoe #ICFslalom Balint Vekassy @gregiej Rio2016 Canoe Slalom

Canoe Slalom Olympic Heats Day 2 Review and Day 3 Preview

John Gregory
8 August 2016

Monday was all about heat 2. Some big names had to dig deep and deliver controlled runs in the 2nd heat to ensure qualifications. Invariably, some delivered and for others in meant unexpected early exits.

First, a review of the C2M and K1W heats followed by a preview of what to expect on Tuesday for the C1M semi-final.

 

C2M –...Read more