DE GENNARO (ITA) coasts through K1 heats as missed gate costs DELFOUR (AUS)
RIO DE JANEIRO - Giovanni DE GENNARO (ITA) posted the fastest time in the men's K1 heats as top-ranked paddler Lucien DELFOUR (AUS) protested a missed gate which cost him a semifinal spot in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games canoe slalom competition
On a wind-affected first day of canoe slalom action at Whitewater Stadium on Sunday, DELFOUR was already under pressure after slipping to 13th place in the first round. And the Australian was effectively dumped out of the Olympic Games when handed a 50-second time penalty for missing gate 20 near the end of his second run....Read more
David Florence's early birthday present
David Florence (GBR) gave himself an early birthday present by posting a cracking time in the first round of the C1 slalom Rio, signalling once again that he is a genuine Olympic medal contender.
Florence turns 34 on Monday, and on Tuesday he’ll set out to earn himself the one thing no-one else can give him – his first ever gold medal.
Florence won silver in the C1 in Beijing in 2008, and for those who thought his best might be behind him, his first run in the C1 heats would have been a rude awakening for the doubters.
And Florence doesn’t understand why
...Read more
Delfour proud of effort after "harsh" call
Lucien Delfour (AUS) knew he had to pull off something special if he was to keep his K1 slalom Olympic dream alive, and when he crossed the line after his second run he thought he’d done it.
But in a split second his dream became a nightmare. Officials had ruled he missed a gate, and the 50 second penalty meant his Olympic debut was over.
“I’m disappointed and shocked,” Delfour said after the race.
“I crossed the finish line and though I’d done a good run. But then I saw the 50 second penalty, and I didn’t know where it came from. I didn’t know which
...Read more
Canoe Slalom Olympic Heats Day 2 Review and Day 3 Preview
Monday was all about heat 2. Some big names had to dig deep and deliver controlled runs in the 2nd heat to ensure qualifications. Invariably, some delivered and for others in meant unexpected early exits.
First, a review of the C2M and K1W heats followed by a preview of what to expect on Tuesday for the C1M semi-final.
C2M –...Read more
Kayak (K1) Men: preview facts
RIO DE JANEIRO - Jiri PRSKAVEC (CZE) will aim to give Czech Republic its first gold medal in a men's canoe slalom event, as he participates in the kayak (K1) men's competition which starts on 7 August at Whitewater Stadium.
- Jiri PRSKAVEC (CZE) is the current world and European champion and he can give Czech Republic its first gold medal in the men's K1.
- Vavrinec HRADILEK (CZE) claimed Czech Republic's only medal so far in this event as he grabbed silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
- The only athlete representing Czech Republic ...Read more
DELFOUR (AUS) enjoys top billing as men's individuals kick off canoe slalom
RIO DE JANEIRO - Lucien DELFOUR (AUS) will have the cream of European canoe slalom ahead of him when he begins his bid to win Australia's first Olympic gold medal in the sport at Whitewater Stadium on Sunday.
The top-ranked K1 paddler in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games competition will be the final competitor to leave the starting gate, aware that all except one of the 21 medals awarded in the men's K1 in Olympic Games history have been won by European athletes.
The difference this time is that only one past medallist is present - Germany's Hannes...Read more
Canoe Single (C1) Men: preview facts
RIO DE JANEIRO - David FLORENCE (GBR) hopes to become the first British winner of the canoe single (C1) men's event, when the competition begins on Sunday, 7 August at Whitewater Stadium.
- Current world champion FLORENCE will try to become the first athlete from Great Britain to win the canoe single (C1) men's event at the Olympic Games.
- FLORENCE already claimed silver in this event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Only three athletes claimed multiple Olympic medals in men's C1: Michal MARTIKAN (SVK, G2-S2-B1), Tony ESTANGUET (FRA, G3) and Lukas POLLERT ...Read more
All eyes on Deodoro
Good morning and welcome to the hot and sunny Deodoro Whitewater Stadium. Today starts 5 days of the most spectacular, exhilarating, tense and thrilling canoe slalom competition. C1M heats now start today at 13.30pm (GMT/UTC - 03:00 hour)
Good luck to all of the paddlers and teams. Congratulations to the huge team behind the scenes for what they have achieved in bringing this amazing competition in Brazil to fruition.
For a preview of today’s C1M & K1M heats see yesterday’s post.
Will...Read more
Canoe Slalom Olympic Heats Day 1 Review and Day 2 Preview
The first day of thrilling canoe slalom competition got underway at the Deodoro Whitewater Stadium. First, a review of the C1M and K1M heats followed by a preview of what to expect on Monday for the second day of canoe slalom heats.
C1M – Qualification to semi-final largely follows World ranking
In the C1M heats 14 of the 19 started were set to qualify for Tuesday’s semi-final
|
Flash Quotes: Canoe Slalom: ESTANGUET (FRA)
RIO DE JANEIRO - Comments from retired men's C1 triple Olympic Games gold medallist and Rio 2016 race jury member Tony ESTANGUET (FRA) as high winds at Whitewater Stadium caused a one-hour delay to the start of the canoe slalom competition on Sunday.
Tony ESTANGUET (FRA)
On how the high winds can affect racing conditions:
"This is the most difficult thing for athletes because it is a precision sport so for sure we can deal with rain, we can deal with poor temperatures but the wind is really unpredictable and that is very...Read more
