RIO DE JANEIRO - The first heat of the women's K1 200m event will pit the London 2012 Olympic Games gold and bronze medallists against each other as the canoe sprint competition begins at the Lagoa Stadium on Monday.

Lisa CARRINGTON (NZL) and Natasa DOUCHEV-JANIC (HUN) will race for a place in the semifinals. CARRINGTON comes into the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the No.1-ranked female paddler while DOUCHEV-JANIC is returning to the Olympic Games after spinal surgery in 2014.

London 2012 silver medallist Inna OSIPENKO-RODOMSKA (AZE) races in the fourth heat. The women's K1 200m is the only canoe sprint event in which all three medallists from London are returning.

The event also features Samoa's first-ever female canoe sprint paddler, Anne CAIRNS (SAM), who races in heat two.

The top men's kayaker this year, Josef DOSTAL (CZE), starts his bid for Olympic gold in the K1 1000m on Monday. The draw means DOSTAL, London 2012 silver medallist Adam VAN KOEVERDEN (CAN) and 2012 bronze medallist Max HOFF (GER) will not meet until at least the semifinals later on Monday.

Reigning Olympic champions Sebastian BRENDEL (GER) and Tina DIETZE/Franziska WEBER (GER) are also in action on Monday in the men's C1 1000m and women's K2 500m respectively.

BRENDEL comes into the regatta as double world champion while DIETZE and WEBER won the European championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, earlier this year.