The wait is almost finally over for slalom paddlers as they look to make their mark on the Olympic stage when they compete in Paris.
Tomorrow will be the first of 15 straight days of canoeing action at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, starting with Canoe Slalom before the attention turns to Canoe Sprint.
History will be made in Paris where kayak cross will be appearing for the first time at the Games, with competition running from August 2 to 5.
Before the much-anticipated Olympic debut of kayak cross, medals in canoe single and kayak single need to be decided over the next six days.
Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek, Germany’s Ricarda Funk, Czechia’s Jiri Prskavec and Australia’s Jessica Fox are returning to defend their crowns in Paris following their success three years ago.
At Tokyo 2020, Fox etched her name in slalom history when she became the first winner of women’s C1 gold at the Olympics.
Fox is a strong favourite to come out on top again having won two of the first three International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cups of the season and finished second in the other.
Great Britain’s Mallory Franklin, who is the reigning world champion in the event, will hope to get the better of Fox, while competition is also set to come from the likes of Czechia’s Gabriela Satkova, Germany’s Elena Lilik and Slovakia’s Zuzana Pankova.
Fox will also have her eyes set on the women’s K1 gold medal after capturing the world title last year.
The Australian won silver in the event at London 2012 and bronze at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
“It just gives me the tingles and I think that’s the Olympics,” said Fox who is making her fourth appearance at the Olympics.
“It just gives you this energy you can’t find anywhere else.”
Funk will hope to make it back-to-back titles in the women’s K1 – an event she is also a two-time world champion in.
“It is going to be crazy to be on the start line as Olympic champion,” said Funk.
“The pressure is going to be hard, but the pressure can also be a positive energy and I try to use it that way.
“I think I have shown that I can handle pressure.”
Prskavec came out on top in the men’s K1 at Tokyo 2020 but is expected to face a challenge from Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke.
After missing out selection for Tokyo 2020, Clarke is back with the ambition to clinch a second K1 crown having emerged victorious at Rio 2016.
“I’ve had a lot of battles with Jiri," said Clarke.
"He’s maybe not started the season this year as well as he wanted, but he is still probably the favourite for slalom given his history from Tokyo and the years afterwards."
Savsek will be aiming for glory again in Paris after sealing the men’s C1 title in Tokyo and is the reigning world champion in the event.
Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis will have his eyes set on gold after winning silver at London 2012 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Home hopes in the event rest on the shoulders of Nicolas Gestin who is third in the ICF World Rankings and won silver at last year’s World Championships.
Competition will begin tomorrow with the heats in the men’s C1 and women’s K1.
A total of 20 athletes will be on the start line in the men’s C1, with 21 contesting the women’s K1.
Useful Paris 2024 links
