Paracanoe is a thrilling sport that sees athletes sprint for 200m.
The sport requires more than strength. It also includes sharp techniques in paddling, balance and stamina.
Beginning in a start-bucket, athletes go head to head against eight other paddlers, going as fast as they can in a straight line to the finish.
Paracanoe made it’s Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 where 60 athletes competed over six events.
It has been in the Games since, with more events being added for each subsequent Paralympic programme.
There are two types of boat in paracanoe – kayak and va’a:
Kayak – is propelled by a double-blade paddle,
Va’a – is an outrigger canoe that has a second pontoon as a support float and uses a single-blade paddle.
Classification
Both kayak and va’a have three different classes of events for men and women, depending on the classification of an athlete’s impairment. These are KL1, KL2 and KL3 for kayak and VL1, VL2 and VL3 for va’a.
KL1 – Athletes with no or very limited trunk foundation and typically need a specific seat with a high back rest in the kayak
VL1 – Athletes with no or extremely limited trunk function and no function in the legs. Athletes in this category will need a seat which has high back and lateral support
KL2 – Athletes with partial trunk or leg function, able to sit upright in the kayak but may require a specific backrest. Limited leg movement during paddling.
VL2 – Athletes are given a score on their trunk and leg function. This class is for athletes who score lower on the trunk function but have a higher leg function score, or vice versa.
KL3 – Athletes with trunk function and partial leg function. Able to sit with trunk in a forward flexed position and able to use at least one leg/prosthesis
VL3 – Athletes with full dynamic trunk function or almost full full dynamic trunk function and partial leg function.
Paralympic Success
The British team has been hugely successful since the sport’s inception in 2010, having topped every world championship medal table. ParalympicsGB went on to win medals in five out of the six events in the sport’s Paralympic debut at Rio 2016.
This included Paralympic titles for Anne Dickens (KL3) , Emma Wiggs (KL2) and Jeanette Chippington (KL1).
With the addition of the VL2 for men and women, and the VL3 for men in Tokyo, the team went on to win seven medals, which included Paralympic titles for Emma Wiggs (VL2), Charlotte Henshaw (KL2) and Laura Sugar (KL3).
In Paris, the sport’s programme will have gender parity with the inclusion of the VL3 category for women.
The Team
The British team is nine-strong for Paris 2024, the biggest ever squad for a paracanoe team at the Paralympic Games in its history.
KL1 & VL2 – Jeanette Chippington OBE
KL2 & VL2 – Emma Wiggs MBE
KL2 & VL3 – Charlotte Henshaw MBE
KL3 – Laura Sugar MBE
KL3 & VL3 – Hope Gordon
KL2 – Dave Phillipson
KL3 – Robert Oliver
VL2 – Ed Clifton
VL3 – Jack Eyers
Paralympic Schedule
Paracanoe will take place from 6 – 8 September at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
All 10 event heats take place on day one, with the final two days seeing athletes battle it out for the medals.
All times UK
6 September – 9:00 – men’s and women’s KL1, KL2 ,KL3, VL2, VL3 heats
7 September – 9:00 – men’s KL1, KL2, KL3 and women’s VL2, VL3 semi-finals and finals
8 September – 9:00 – women’s KL1, KL2, KL2 and men’s VL2, VL3 semi-finals and finals
Live coverage
Live coverage of the Paralympic Games will be available across Channel 4, More4, Channel 4 streaming and social channels, with over 1300 hours of coverage on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel.
Inspired by the Games?
At grassroots level, several canoe clubs specialise in paracanoe, alongside the Paracanoe Talent Academy, set up to help athletes to continue their development.
Royal Leamington Spa, Addlestone Canoe Club, Solihull and Norwich Canoe Club all have specialist facilities and coaching to support people to try paddling.
Hit the Get Involved tab above to search for these clubs, or ask PaddleBot below for contact details.
As well as the clubs, Attila Herbent, Paddle UK’s paracanoe talent pathway coach, offers paracanoe introduction days at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham.
If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Attila through the form linked here. He’d love to hear from you.