Boat manufacturer Plastex has expressed its excitement over the “acceleration” of Paracanoe’s development on the global stage.
Paracanoe is making its third successive appearance at the Paralympic Games after featuring at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
The discipline was demonstrated under the name paddleability at the 2009 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships, before being made a medal event one year later.
It has been a journey which Plastex has been involved in since Paracanoe first appeared on the international circuit.
“I remember the beginning very well where there were some races which were straight finals A with four athletes competing,” said Lukas Seruga, CEO of Plastex.
“We were there from day one and we are very proud that we are part of this Paracanoe family.
“Now you can see that growth is amazing.
“The sport is still growing and developing.
“At this year’s World Championships it was massive, with over 200 athletes participating.”
As the sport has developed over the years, Plastex has worked to cater for the specifications of the athletes.
“We started with three models in Paracanoe,” said Mr Seruga.
“It took time and there was no need to develop new models because there were not many athletes competing in it compared to now.
“Then we just had to develop more models.
“That’s how the Para Rio and Para Tokyo boats were created and now we have the Para Bullet.
“The acceleration of the development of Para canoe and Para kayak is almost the same as the sprint world.”
Plastex was founded in 1990 by Richard Seruga, who was a Canoe Slalom paddler and participated in the Munich 1972 Olympic Games where the discipline featured for the first time.
Since its formation, Plastex has grown enormously as it produces high-quality kayaks, canoes, surfskis, dragon boats, Para kayaks and paddles for racing and exports its products all over the world.
The company’s first Olympic medallist came at Atlanta 1996 when Poland’s Piotr Markiewicz won bronze in the men’s kayak single 500m.
Four years later at Sydney 2000, 26 medals were won by athletes that used Plastex’s boats.
Plastex, which is an ICF Gold Partner, supplied boats during the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics.
“Now we are developing new kayaks for the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” said Richard Seruga.
“Every year we try to redesign our boats to make them more comfortable, more efficient and friendlier to our athletes.
“We have a very good position on the European market and are very proud to have an agreement with the ICF and continue working together.”
Related links
