The majority world's best canoe sprint and paracanoe athletes have arrived in Rio ready for a three-day competition that will test the event environment and technical systems ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With the events primary focus on testing systems and competition management rather than athletic excellence the approach by many teams seems more exploratory than results focused.

"It doesn't really feel like a big competition right now, but I think it's important to be here and try the course," commented Sweden's Petter Menning.

The 2013 K1M 200m World Champion finished third at this season's main event, just two weeks ago in Milan, and looked back fondly on his year's efforts.

"I'm pretty happy with my season, I have been on the podium every international race I participated in. That's a good thing.

"Of course, at the World Championships I always want that to be the best performance. I was hoping for maybe a little more, but I'm racing incredible guys: Mark [De Jonge] from Canada, Maxim [Beaumont] from France and many others. To be able to be on the podium is an honour.”

Looking forward, the ambitious 28-year-old clearly has aspirations of gold when he returns to these waters next summer.

"I am trying to look at every part of my life to see what bits I can improve. What I eat, when I eat, and how I sleep. How each part of my life can make me a faster paddler.”

Clearly motivated by his disappointment of not qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games, he continued, "I have concentrated on every part of my life since the last Olympics, where I didn't qualify. I sat down and said to myself, and my coach, I need to have a higher level all the time. I think I have accomplished that.

“It's about improving every bit of everything."

Menning is certainly forensic in his approach and, following his qualification set back, appears to be grasping every possible opportunity to fine-tune ahead of the Rio Games.

“For me every competition is a test event. I always try something different. I always find something to improve. Something new.”

Rio Team Ready

Testing was also top of the agenda for the Rio 2016 Sports Manager, Sebastian Cuattrin.


“I’m very happy because the course is ready, everybody is here and the conditions are good."

The former top-level paddler continued, “For my team it is really important to test the technology, results systems and the competition management.


"For the athletes it's really important to test their feelings on the water. The way the wind varies and get ready for the conditions they will face at the Games.”

The test event gets underway at 9.00am (BRT) 4th September when the C1M 1000m heats get underway.