Blog Posts: #ICFsprint #Olympics #canoesprint
Rizza set to take on childhood hero in K1M 200m Final
Italy’s Manfredi Rizza is living the dream after a perfect start to his Olympic career has provided a spot in tomorrow's K1 Men 200m final.
The 25-year-old is a relative newcomer amongst the world’s fastest but confirmed his arrival at the sports top table with victory at the 2016 ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Duisburg earlier this season.
Today, Rizza eased through the heats and managed a third in a tight semifinal to confirm his place in the top eight.
Excited by his achievements the Italian said, “I was super happy to make the final. I...Read more
Dead heats and fast times as canoe sprinters fight for final spots
RIO DE JANEIRO - The wind picked up and so did the pace as the final day of canoe sprint heats got under way at Lagoa Stadium on Friday.
There were several photo finishes, none closer than in the second semifinal of the women's kayak four (K4) 500m when Canada and Great Britain tied for second on identical times, both progressing to Saturday's final.
Emilie FOURNEL (CAN) described making the final as "the cherry on the Olympic sundae".
In the men's kayak single 200m, London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Mark DE JONGE (CAN
...Read more
Wallace sets sights on fourth Olympics after Rio bronze
Evergreen Australian paddler, Ken Wallace, has vowed to push on for a fourth Olympic Games after pairing with Olympic debutant Lachlan Tame to win bronze in the K2 1000 on Thursday morning.
33-year-old Wallace, who won gold and bronze at the Beijing Olympics, and then finished fourth in the K2 1000 in London, said he’s in the form of his life – and while he has a lot more responsibilities at home these days, Tokyo 2020 is in his thoughts.
“I’d like to think so, I really would,” Wallace said.
“For me personally I’ve had the most
...Read more
Hartley talks of quitting 'lonely' K1 and turning to K2 for Tokyo
A missing bum pad may be the catalyst to keep South Africa’s Bridgitte Hartley in canoe sprint for another four years – as long as she can avoid the loneliness of living overseas.
33-year-old Hartley, who won silver in London in 2012, finished eighth in the K1 500 B final on Thursday, and admitted after the race she had been thrown by some missing equipment before the race.
“I’m very disappointed,” she said.
“I got to the race course this morning and my bum pad was gone, completely gone and I couldn’t find it anywhere. I was
...Read more
Danuta Kozac shows dominance in a day of otherwise close finishes
RIO DE JANEIRO - Danuta KOZAK (HUN) won her second gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and emphatically retained her women's kayak single (K1) 500m title at the Lagoa Stadium on Thursday.
None of the other seven paddlers could match KOZAK's move at the halfway mark and she won by a margin of almost two seconds.
At the line there were five boats in contention for the minor medals. Emma JORGENSEN (DEN), at 20 the youngest finalist, sneaked through for silver ahead of K1 200m champion Lisa CARRINGTON (NZL).
London 2012
...Read more
Liepa makes history for two countries at Rio 2016
When Lasma Liepa took to the water for the canoe sprint competition in Rio this week, she was making history for two countries.
It was no surprise that given the enormity of the occasion, nerves got the better of the Latvian-born Turk competing in her first Olympics.
28-year-old Liepa was also the first athlete to represent Turkey in canoe at an Olympic Games, and she was also the first woman from Latvia to compete in canoe.
“I was so nervous,” she said.
“At the start I forgot everything. I had never had so much stress in my life before,
...Read more
Champion paddler Cheban edges into final as Brazil's Queiroz Dos Santos aims for second medal
RIO DE JANEIRO - Men's canoe single (C1) 200m champion Iurii CHEBAN (UKR) just squeezed into the Rio 2016 final during racing at the Lagoa Stadium on Wednesday.
CHEBAN, who took gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, was third in his semifinal, winning the last qualifying place on the basis of his time and pushing out Oleg TARNOVSCHI (MDA), whose brother Serghei won bronze in the C1 1000m on Tuesday.
Isaquias QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS (BRA), who took silver in the 1000m, is on course for another podium place after qualifying fastest for
...Read more
Korea box on in Olympic K2 debut
Korea’s decision to have a K1 200 team in Rio came late, but Minkyu Choi and Gwanghee Cho are not complaining.
In a country where competitive sprint canoeing is starting to develop, both Choi and Cho are excited to be representing Korea at an Olympics.
Cho had already qualified for the K1, but up until a few months ago he and Choi had rarely set foot in a boat together.
“We’ve been paddling together for about four months,” Choi said.
“Last year Gwanghee qualified at the World Championships, but then our Korean Government wanted to have
...Read more
Rodriguez makes mark on Olympic debut
Mexico’s Marcos Pulido Rodriguez has had to do it the tough way to get to Rio, but now that he’s here he’s having a ball.
Rodriguez began in the sport just before the London Olympics, but at that time competing for his country was only a pipedream.
“I began because some of my friends from college invited me about five years ago,” Rodriguez said.
“I am the only one from Mexico. I will continue working for the future, it is a big task ahead.”
20-year-old Rodriguez earmarked the 2015 World U23 Championships in Portugal as an important lead-up race, but competing was...Read more
Canoe Sprint events starting on 17 August: preview facts
RIO DE JANEIRO - Preview facts for canoe sprint events starting on Wednesday 17 August at Lagoa Stadium.
Men's canoe single 200m
LI Qiang (CHN) could give China its first gold medal in an individual canoe sprint event.
MENG Guanliang (CHN) and YANG Wenjun (CHN) are the only Chinese medallists in canoe sprint at the Olympic Games. They won gold in men's canoe double 500m at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
LI finished second in this event at last year's world championships and at the World Cup events in
...Read more