A year ago on this day, the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium welcomed the best Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint athletes for 15 days of breathtaking competitions.
From historic firsts to stars underlining their GOAT status, the Olympic Games Paris 2024 delivered on all fronts.
As we celebrate the first anniversary, here is a look back at all the memorable moments from an unforgettable Games.
WATCH: Canoe Slalom
- Kayak Cross finals
- Women's Canoe semi-finals and final
- Men's Canoe semi-finals and final
- Women's Kayak semi-finals and final
- Men's Kayak semi-finals and final
WATCH: Canoe Sprint
- Men's C2 500m, Women's K4 500m and Men's K4 500m semi-finals and finals
- Women's C2 500m, men's K2 500m, Men's C1 1000m semi-finals and finals
- Women's K1 500m, Men's K1 1000m and Women's C1 200m semi-finals and finals
Beyond sport
The Games in Paris were much more than competition for the International Canoe Federation. Firstly, equality was at the heart of it, with gender parity achieved in the number of athletes and International Technical Officials (ITO) for the first time. Secondly, years of development activities that the International Federation invested in bore fruit as 22 paddlers shone on the Olympic stage in Canoe Sprint. For the spectators, the Africa Station, a fan zone dedicated to celebrating African culture and sport at Paris 2024, was in full swing with children getting to try Dragon Boat, before breast cancer survivors went on to feature in a demonstration of the discipline. Need we say more?
100 more
We celebrated 100 years, and we would like 100 more. In 1924, the ICF was born, and at the Olympic Games later that year in Paris, canoeing was introduced as a demonstration sport. It was fitting that in 2024, the ICF celebrated a century in the same city. Over 150 guests from five continents, including ITOs, came together for a gathering at the new headquarters of the French Canoe and Kayak Federation during the Games. Earlier last year, a commemorative book was published to mark the joyous occasion.
Novelty and innovation
It was not only us who enjoyed the historic debut of kayak cross. Likened to Mario Kart on water, the high-adrenaline version of the sport attracted big numbers on social media and plenty of praise from the world press. One year on, more nations are coming forward to understand and learn the tricks of the trade, where unpredictability is king. Finn Butcher of New Zealand won the men's title while Australian Noemie Fox grabbed the gold medal in the women's race. Confirmed again for the Olympic Games LA28, the legacy is set to continue.
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Fox, Carrington, and many more
All athletes who took to the waters in France are stars without a doubt. But if we had to pick two global superstars whose fame rose to greater heights since the Games, it would have to be Jessica Fox of Australia and Lisa Carrington of New Zealand. The former did the canoe-kayak double in Canoe Slalom while Carrington bagged three gold medals in Canoe Sprint. The New Zealander now has a record-equalling eight titles, the same as German great Birgit Fischer.
There were many other special moments, including Nicolas Gestin's C1 triumph in slalom, marking a high point for the hosts, before Titouan Castryck and Angele Hug joined him on the podium. The women’s C1 200m final witnessed the first all-Pan American podium in Olympic canoeing history, when Canadian Katie Vincent, Nevin Harrison of the United States, and Cuban Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys finished first, second, and third, respectively.
Refugee athletes
While conflicts continue around the world, Paris 2024 proved why sport can make a difference again. At the Games, Saeid Fazloula, Fernando Dayan Jorge Enriquez, Saman Soltani, and Amir Rezanejad Hassanjani formed part of the International Olympic Committee’s Refugee Olympic Team. Among 36 athletes, four canoeists who fled their native countries to seek refuge represented more than 120 million displaced people around the world. For Fazloula, who retired recently, it was a second appearance at the Games as part of the Refugee Olympic Team. Iliya Nadernejad is the newest paddler who will now compete as an ICF refugee athlete, with LA28 three years away.
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