The favourites from New Zealand and Hungary performed well while all members of the Refugee Olympic Team bowed out of the competition. 

Here are some quotes after day two Canoe Sprint action at Paris 2024.

​Balint Kopasz (Hungary) 

“I am happy, we are happy. Today was a very good day for me, I am mentally and physically strong and this is very important for a competitor. It was very hard. The last 250m we went faster, and it was very important over this distance.”

Adam Varga (Hungary)

“The first one is always a little bit of butterflies in the stomach. This first race, our goal was to qualify for the semifinals, so we are happy. We don't have a specific goal, we don't know what we could do because this is our first race, so we don't have any goals.”

Fernando Pimenta (Portugal)

“In the race I had two different feelings. One was being unstable on the boat, the water was moving and lots of waves. On the other side, I am feeling under control in our race. I have more to do. I hope to fight for the final eight in the semifinal. The first step is the final eight because the level is high. I hope to be fighting for the eight finalists and after that, I hope to fight for the medals. First thing final. After that we will see.”

Isaquias Guimaraes Queiroz (Brazil)

“It was not worth using my full energy, I needed to save for the future races. I thought it was just to pass the first test. I have a lot more tests here during the Olympics. So it is a good mark to get through the next phase. No, I am all good and calm. The Olympics are a different thing and each one is a new environment. It is a big moment and I obviously want to repeat my victory from Tokyo because winning gold was tasty. So I hope I can repeat.”

Martin Fuksa (Czechia)

“It is never easy to be with the Olympic champion in the same heat. I don’t understand how it is possible. I don’t know. But no worries, I won, so. Isaquias did not go fast at the finish, so it was an easy heat. But I am happy that I won because it is more psychological than physical, so we will see.”

Aimee Fisher (New Zealand)

“It was just (good) to get my first race on the board. I haven't been on the start line since Poland back in May, and it was even just nice to be on the start line. I felt strong and confident, so really happy with how today went."

Lisa Carrington (New Zealand)

“Just trying to do the race as efficiently as possible, I've obviously got to be mindful of the whole week. I think every boat has its own unique qualities and nerves and what it takes, I think its just awesome to race all three.”

Saman Soltani (Refugee Olympic Team) 

“(The) Olympics was always my biggest dream, and this dream has come true today. I'm really super happy and proud. I can't describe how happy I am, and I want to see all the people who support me. I was really excited, and I wanted to do my best, it was good. I have one more race, the quarterfinal, and there I should do better. But I'm happy.”

Tamara Csipes (Hungary)

“The venue is good, but there is no proper warm-up lane. The start is not good, it was not so professional, the boats were rocking left to right. We had a false start and I got nervous, because I didn't want to do another start. Mentally I got nervous, so I did an easy start and I just wanted to ease into it, because the race is long and maybe at half to the 500m I had more power.”