Canoeing has three disciplines in Rio with Sprint and Slalom represented at the Olympic Games and Paracanoe making its debut at the Paralympic Games.

There are 22 gold medals up for grabs across the three disciplines with 12 in Sprint, six in Paracanoe and four in Slalom.

In 1924 Canoe Sprint made a splash as a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Paris. Then at the 1936 Berlin Games, sprint became one of the core sports and has remained ever since.

It’s no secret that Canoe Slalom is often one of the most dramatic, action-packed, and exciting sports in the Olympic Games. But we know that sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what’s going on behind all of those big splashes, especially if you’re new to the world of canoe. So sit back, relax, and enjoy our short guide to Canoe Slalom in Rio, to make sure that you’ll be the most knowledgeable spectator - whether you’re watching the action from your sofa or from the stands.

What is Canoe Slalom?

• IOC - Guidelines Regarding Authorised Identifications - Rio 2016
• RIO 2016 Health Guideline
• Competition Format and Rules
• IOC Olympic Social Media Guidelines