Rio 2016 Canoe Sprint Format and Rules

There will be 12 canoe sprint events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The men will compete for eight gold medals, racing in five different boat categories, while the women will chase four golds in a single, double and four-person kayak.

Details on the 12 events and the competition boats are as follows:

Olympic competition format

Boat measurements

Men

Boat

Women

Length

Width

Minimum weight

1000m

200m

K1

Kayak single

500m

200m

520cm

Free

12kg

1000m

200m

K2

Kayak double

500m

 

650cm

Free

18kg

1000m

 

K4

Kayak four

500m

 

1100cm

Free

30kg

1000m

200m

C1

Canoe single

 

 

520cm

Free

14kg

1000m

 

C2

Canoe double

 

 

650cm

Free

20kg


Depending on the number of entries in each event, preliminary heats, semifinals and finals (A and B) will be held

Progression from Heats

Progression from Semifinal

Finals

Up to 8 Boats Direct Final

 

Final A – 1 x 8

9-10 boats (2 Heats / 1 Semifinal) Final A

  • 1st to Final A
  • Rest to Semifinal
  • 1st - 6th to Final A
  • Rest out

Final A – 1 x 8

11 Boats (2 Heats / 2 semifinals)

  • 1st to Final A
  • Rest to Semifinals
  • 1st - 3rd to Final A
  • Rest out

Final A – 1 x 8

12-16 Boats (2 Heats / 2 Semifinals) Final A 

  • 1st to Final A
  • Rest to Semifinals
  • 1st - 3th to Final A
  • 4 toh  7th to Final B

Final A – 1 x 8
Final B – 1 x 8

17-19 Boats (3 Heats / 2 Semifinals) Finals A+B 

  • 1st to Final A
  • Rest to Semifinals
  • 1st – 2nd plus best 3rd place by time to Final A
  • Best ranking by time for Final B
  • Rest out

Final A – 1 x 8
Final B – 1 x 8

20-24 (3 heats / 2 semifinals) Finals A+B

  • 1st - 5th plus 6th best time to Semifinals
  • Rest out
  • 1st - 4th to Final A
  • 5th - 8th to Final B

Final A – 1 x 8
Final B – 1 x 8

25-27 (4 heats / 3 semifinals) Finals A+B

  • 1st - 5th plus 6th best time to Semifinals
  • Rest out
  • 1st - 2nd plus two best 3rd place by time to Final A
  • Best ranking by time for Final B
  • Rest out

Final A – 1 x 8
Final B – 1 x 8

28-32 (4 Heats / 3 Semifinals) Finals A+B

  • 1st - 6th to Semifinals
  • Rest out
  • 1st - 2nd plus two best 3rd place by time to Final A
  • Best ranking by time for Final B
  • Rest out

Final A – 1 x 8
Final B – 1 x 8


Notes:
• B Finals are added when there are 12 boats or more.
• Where there is a tie with two or more boats that results in progression to the Final, then all these boats go to Final and the lowest ranked qualified boat from the semi-final will not advance to the Final to ensure an 8 boat final.

Differences between the ICF World Championships and the Olympic Games

There are 31 events at the International Canoe Federation (ICF) World Championships compared to 12 events at the Olympic Games.

Sport rules and procedures

Race distances

1000m, 500m and 200m (lanes are 9m wide).

Scoring

The winning boat is the one whose bow (the tip of the boat) crosses the finishing line first.

Difference between canoe and kayak

Canoes are propelled by a single-bladed paddle. The athletes are on one knee with the other leg forwards, creating a stable paddling position. Since canoes do not have a rudder, the athletes use the paddle to steer, as well as to drive the boat through the water. The canoes may be open or partially covered at the front and back, with a minimum opening of 280cm.

In a kayak, the athletes are seated in the middle of the craft, and propel themselves forwards with a double-bladed paddle, which they pull through the water on both sides. They use a foot operated rudder system to steer the kayak. This rudder must be situated under the hull. For the two-man and four-man kayaks (K2 and K4) the rudder pedals are placed in the front cockpit and can only be used by the athlete at the front.

Lane assignments

For the heats, the winners of the most recent ICF world championship are rewarded with one of the centre lanes. In the semifinals the winners of the heats take the centre lanes. In the finals the winners of the heats and/or the semifinals are awarded the centre lanes.

Team member changes

Team members cannot be changed once the competition has started. Start lists are fixed once the competition begins, regardless of illness or injury. If an athlete cannot participate he/she will be disqualified.

Exclusion

Boats will be excluded from the Games for the following reasons:

•    If a boat arrives after the official start time.
•    If a boat misses a race.
•    If a boat causes two false starts.
•    If a boat breaks the 5m rule.
•    If at the end of a race a boat is found by the competition committee to have failed to comply with the rules.

There are other possible situations which can lead to disqualification, including underweight boats and illegal advertising.

5m rule

Boats must remain inside a 5m boundary throughout every race. Any boat that drifts into, or close to, another lane may be disqualified.

Best times

There are no records in canoe sprint due to the differences in course set-ups and conditions. The ICF does maintain a list of best times recorded in Finals A.

Tiebreak rules

If two or more boats tie in a heat or semifinal for a position that qualifies the boat for the next round, all boats in question will progress as long as there are enough lanes available in the next round. In this situation, a boat will be permitted to compete in the additional "0" lane.

If there are not sufficient lanes available in the next round, an extra race will be organised between all ties. This race will take place one hour after the final scheduled race in the relevant session.

If there is a tie for a medal position in the final, additional medals will be awarded.

Penalties/disqualification rules

The competition committee may impose the following penalties on competitors:

•    Warning
•    Disqualification
•    Exclusion

Protests/appeals

A boat can make a protest against the decision of the competition committee or the starter within 20 minutes of the finish of a race. Boats may appeal to the jury within the following 20 minutes if they do not agree with the subsequent decision by the competition committee.