The Olympic Games are being held in Paris for the first time since 1924 - a year that saw the birth of the International Canoe Federation and the sport's introduction onto the global sporting stage.
On January 19, 1924, six months before the Opening Ceremony in the French capital, the representatives of four National Federations - Austria, Denmark, Germany and Sweden - met in Copenhagen, Denmark and created the “Internationale Representantschaft für Kanusport” (IRK).
With the intention to become the global governing body of canoeing, they chose Franz Reinicke from Germany as the first IRK President.
At the Olympics later that year, canoeing was introduced as a demonstration sport, along with the national sports of French boxing and pelota.
The Canadian Olympic Committee had accepted a request from the French Olympic Committee to exhibit the sport at the Games.
Compettiton was held at the Bassin d’Argenteuil in Paris, which also hosted the rowing events in 1924.
Representatives from the Canadian Canoe Association and the Washington Canoe Club in the United States participated in kayak single, kayak double, kayak four, canoe single, canoe double and canoe four races.
Ontario-born Roy Nurse was among the top perfromers, standing on the podium in every race he competed.
He finsihed first in the C1 and C4 and came second in the K1, K2, C2 and K4.
For the United States, CW Havens won the K1, while the Canadian duo of Harry C Greenshields and AA Lindsay pipped compatriots Nurse and GM Duncan in the C2.
It was at Berlin 1936 where Canoe Sprint featured as an official Olympic sport.
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