Canoe Double (C2) Men: preview facts

RIO DE JANEIRO - Luka BOZIC (SLO) and Saso TALJAT (SLO) hope to give Slovenia its first gold medal in canoe slalom by winning the canoe double (C2) men's event, which starts on Monday 8 August at Whitewater Stadium.

BOZIC and TALJAT became world champions in men's C2 in 2014 and finished second at the 2016 European championships.

Coming into the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Andraz VEHOVAR (SLO) is the only athlete representing Slovenia to claim an Olympic medal in canoe slalom as he took home silver in men's K1 at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.

Franz ANTON (GER) and Jan BENZIEN (GER) are the reigning world champions in the men's C2 and hope to become the first gold medallists in this event representing Germany.

Germany's last medal in this event came in 2004, when Stefan HENZE (GER) and Marcus BECKER (GER) claimed the silver medal. They also were world champions coming into the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The only athletes to have won the men's canoe double (C2) event at the Olympic Games as reigning world champions are Pavol HOCHSCHORNER (SVK) and Peter HOCHSCHORNER (SVK), who did so at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Twin brothers HOCHSCHORNER have won a record three gold medals and four total medals in canoe slalom (men's C2 in 2000, 2004, 2008), but will not be competing in Rio.

Slovakia will be represented by cousins Ladislav SKANTAR (SVK) and Peter SKANTAR (SVK). They have claimed seven medals at European championships (G3-S1-B3) and four at world championships (S1-B3), but will make their debut at the Olympic Games.

David FLORENCE (GBR) and Richard HOUNSLOW (GBR) will aim to follow up their silver medal in this event in London with a gold one in Rio.

Their compatriots Timothy BAILLIE (GBR) and Etienne STOTT (GBR) won the gold medal in London. No NOC has had consecutive wins in the canoe double (C2) men's event with two different pairs.

FLORENCE will also compete in the canoe single (C1) event. He could become the first athlete to claim multiple canoe slalom medals at a single Olympic Games.

FLORENCE tried to do this in London 2012, but only finished in 10th place in the C1 event.

He already is the only athlete with canoe slalom medals in two different disciplines, as he grabbed silver in the men's C1 in 2008.