Paris 2024: Exciting battles in Paracanoe: Para canoe begins on September 6 with three days of intense competition from 100 Para athletes.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games’ Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium held Para rowing and canoeing among 450 newly planted trees.
Para athletes will compete in 10 kayaks and va’ events on a 200m track for medals. Para canoe debuted at Rio 2016 with only kayak events, whereas va ‘a debuted at Tokyo 2020.
The speedier kayaking uses a double-bladed paddle. An outrigger helps balance the vas, and athletes utilize a single-blade paddle to finish first.
The British para canoeists have clinched 12 medals including; 6 gold medals in three Paralympic games. Second and third in terms of Paralympic medal tally, Ukraine and Australia has three podium achievements each.
Five storylines for Para canoe…
Kiss ready to repeat ‘unforgettable’ Tokyo experience
Peter Kiss of Hungary started paddling when he was 16 and made his way to become the youngest Paralympic canoeist in Tokyo and clinched the KL1 gold medal.
He emerged as a new star in sports after winning his first global title at the age of 16 in 2019. He is expected to perform an encore in Paris.
“This is my biggest objective currently and I’m working hard to get it. Kiss looked forward to his second Games, saying it’s harder to defend a crown than to win one.
Everyone should have an unforgettable experience as I did in Tokyo.
Wiggs and Henshaw lead the British quest for gold
British Para canoeists are leading numerous races at Paris 2024 to expand their medal advantage.
Charlotte Henshaw won two Paralympic medals in swimming before moving to master the women’s KL2, winning every world title since 2018 and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic title.
Emma Wiggs, a London 2012 sitting volleyball star, won gold in the women’s va’a single VLT and silver in the kayak single KL2 at Tokyo 2020 and could win another medal for Britain in Paris.
Wiggs, the first female Para canoe athlete to win two medals at one Games, said defending both championships in Paris would be fantastic, but the world has really stepped up.
‘Steel cowboy’ chasing more valuable metals
Fernando Rufino de Paulo, the “Steel cowboy” from Brazil, became a four-time world champion after 80 accidents.
After rodeo bull riding, the Brazilian became a Para canoeist and won a gold medal.
“Canoeing continued my rodeo aim. I adjusted my method but kept my goal of traveling and learning new cultures and languages.”
In Tokyo 2020, the 39-year-old won a Paralympic VL2 gold and will defend it in Paris
Seipel aims to complete the collection
Susan Steipel won three world titles. She won a bronze and a silver in the Paralympics in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 and is hoping to win a gold in Paris this summer.
Can McGrath defend his double gold medals?
Steipel’s partner Curtis McGrath became the first Para canoeist to win two gold medals at Tokyo 2020. The 36-year-old Australian defended his Rio 2016 Kl2 championship and won the inaugural men’s VL3.
His last Games appearance may be in Paris, where he aims to defend both championships.
“Becoming a Paralympic champion requires hard effort, sacrifices, a hurting body, and time away from family. You must be dedicated and goal-oriented… But the trip matters.
