Legendary kayakers and canoeists came together to celebrate the Paris 2024 Torch Relay at the Olympic venue.
Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, which will host the Canoe Slalom and Canoe Sprint competitions during Paris 2024, was lit up by the Olympic Torch celebrations yesterday.
This venue became the first purpose-built facility to finish construction back in 2019 and now looks set to stage the canoeing events in fewer than a week’s time.
France’s Emilie Fer, who won women’s kayak single gold at London 2012, carried the Olympic Torch on a raft where she was joined by four Tokyo 2020 champions in Canoe Slalom.
Australia’s Jessica Fox, Germany’s Ricarda Funk, Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek and Czechia’s Jiri Prskavec, who all claimed gold in Tokyo three years ago, took to the water with Fer as they navigated the Canoe Slalom course.
“It was an amazing opportunity to be part of the torch relay and sit in the raft,” said Fox.
“It’s a bit different, but we got to take it down the rapids and it survived which is great and an amazing experience.”
Other torchbearers on the day included Benoit Peschier, a gold medallist in the men’s kayak single at Athens 2004, and Jean Zoungrana, President of both the French Canoe-Kayak Federation and European Canoe Association.
French sprint canoeist Jean Laudet, the Helsinki 1952 Olympic champion in the men’s C2, also participated in the Torch Relay.
It was the 62nd stage of the Torch Relay as the Olympic Flame continues its journey to Paris.
Pictures by Paris 2024 / Laurent Vu / SIPA PRESS
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