Know Your Sport - Canoeing

The Tokyo Games mark the first time in Olympic competition that women will compete in canoes, having previously only competed in kayaks.

Canoeing is divided between slalom and sprint events, using canoes and kayaks. In slalom, competitors negotiate a whitewater course by weaving through a series of gates against the clock, with time penalties for mistakes such as touching or missing a gate. In the sprint events, races are held on a flatwater course over 200, 500 and 1,000 metre distances.