| Sport: | Canoeing |
| Size: | 150 |
| Menevents: | 4 |
| Womenevents: | 4 |
| Governing Body: | International Canoe Federation |
| Otherlinks: | http://www.paralympic.org/canoe |
Paracanoe debuted at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.[1] [2] [3] A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the roster of the Summer Paralympic Games.[4]
Paracanoe is a variant of canoeing for athletes with a variety of physical disabilities. The sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF).[5]
Competition at the Summer Paralympic Games consists of sprint races over a 200m straight line course.[6] Eight different events are held.
The first paracanoe programme at the Paralympics in 2016 featured competitors using single kayaks (K1).[6] For the 2020 paracanoe competitions, a second type of boat, the va'a, was added. This is an outrigger canoe propelled by a single bladed paddle.[7]
There are three different classes for competitors with different physical mobility impairments:[6]
Updated to 2020 Summer Paralympics
The KL1 Class is for paracanoe paddlers who have very limited or no trunk function and no leg function.[8]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
The KL 2 class is for paracanoe paddlers with partial leg and trunk function alongside good arm strength. A KL2 class paddler should be able to sit upright within the kayak but may require a backrest.[9]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
The KL3 class is for paracanoe paddlers with trunk function and partial leg function.[10]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
The VL2 classification mirrors the KL2 classification but in reference to the Va'a outrigger canoe type.
| 2020 |
The VL3 classification mirrors the KL3 classification but in reference to the Va'a outrigger canoe type. Some KL2 paddlers will qualify in this classification as a consequence of the extra stability of the outrigger boat.
| 2020 |
The KL1 Class is for paracanoe paddlers who have very limited or no trunk function and no leg function.[11]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
The KL 2 class is for paracanoe paddlers with partial leg and trunk function alongside good arm strength. A KL2 class paddler should be able to sit upright within the kayak but may require a backrest.[12]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
The KL3 class is for paracanoe paddlers with trunk function and partial leg function.[13]
| 2016 | ||||
| 2020 |
| 2020 |
The following canoeists have won 2 or more medals in para canoe at the Paralympic Games.[14]
Correct as of 16 September 2021:
| No. | Athlete | Nation | Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||