London, England 17 August 2012 – The President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) José Perurena López has declared Canoeing at the London 2012 Olympic Games “a resounding success.”
Canoeing
saw its best reception at an Olympic Games after tens of thousands of
spectators attended competition events at both Lee Valley White Water
Center (Canoe Slalom venue) and Eton Dorney (Canoe Sprint venue).
The
whitewater action at the Lee Valley White Water Centre was spectacular
as it was dramatic, providing arguably one of the most thrilling viewing
experiences of any venue of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
France
topped the Canoe Slalom medals table winning two of the four gold
medals on offer, wresting the crown from Slovakia, who had won three out
of four gold medals at Beijing 2008.
In
Canoe Sprint, Hungary and Germany shared the top position with three
gold medals each, reaffirming their dominance in this discipline.
HIGHLIGHTS
CANOE SLALOM COMPETITION
(29th July – 2nd August 2012)
Estanguet (FRA) makes Olympic history
Tony
Estanguet (FRA) made history when he won a third Men’s C1 gold medal at
an Olympic Games. The 34 year old who announced his retirement shortly
after the competition also won gold at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000
and the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.
In
what could be deemed to have been the “turning point” for Team GB at
London 2012, and certainly a turning point for Canoe Slalom in Great
Britain, Men’s C2 duo Tim Baillie/Etienne Stott (GBR) performed to
perfection their run in the final, claiming a historic gold medal for
Great Britain.
David
Florence/Richard Hounslow (GBR) who had been tipped to medal took
silver. Great Britain’s gold medal in the Men’s C2 was the first time
that a host country had won the discipline.
After
5 consecutive World Championship gold medals and in search of a fourth
consecutive Olympic gold medal, the Hochschorner twins, Peter and Pavol
Hochschorner’s (SVK) ambition were dashed when they touched a gate in
their final run. The resulting 2 second penalty placed them in 2nd place and a clean and fast run from Florence/Hounslow relegated them to 3rd place and a bronze medal.
European
champion Daniele Molmenti (ITA) continued his fine form this year
earning Italy's first gold medal in Canoe Slalom for 20 years, side
passing the two-time World Champion Peter Kauzer (SLO), who has won
every major title in Men's Kayak (Slalom) except an Olympic medal.
France’s Emilie Fer stuns the Women’s Kayak field
Spain’s
Maialen Chourraut, winner of two of three World Cups this season won
the bronze medal making her the first Spaniard to win a medal in Canoe
Slalom. First-time Olympian Jessica Fox (AUS) added an Olympic silver
medal to her vast collection of medals after only two weeks earlier
winning 3 gold medals, including a gold medal after she retained her
Women’s K1 junior World Championship title.
France’s
Emily Fer was flying under the radar going into the Games and nobody
saw her coming. Her best result this year had been a silver medal at the
La Seu d’Urgell World Cup in June and best ever result a silver medal
at the 2009 World Championship. In winning France’s second gold medal of
the competition she also made history by becoming the first Frenchwoman
to win the Women’s K1 final at the Olympic Games.
CANOE SPRINT COMPETITION
(6th – 11th August 2012)
200m event the biggest winner
The
future of the sport was cemented with the success of the newly
introduced explosive 200m distance, an instant winner with the
spectators at Eton Dorney. Never was there a bigger cheer than when
Great Britain’s Ed McKeever, now commonly referred to as “Bolt on water”
took to the blocks in the Men’s K1 200m final.
Evident
also for the world to see is the progress that the International Canoe
Federation (ICF) is making to develop the sport around the world, as
several countries made their first appearance on the medal table.
Canoe
Sprint has long been the playground of Hungary and Germany but even as
the two traditional powers shared the top of the medal tables with 3
gold medals each, none of the 200m gold medals were won by either
country.
"Before
we had 1,000 metres and 500 metres, and normally the same athletes
competed (for the medals) in both," ICF President Jose Perurena López
said. "But now we have totally different athletes. There are more medals
for more countries, more possibilities to concentrate the athletes on
one distance and to specialize.
"It
was marvelous for the crowd. I will push for more events in the 200.
The 1,000 for men and 500 for women are our traditional distance but the
200 is more important for the television and more exciting for the
spectators."
Carrington (NZL) trumps Douchev-Janics (HUN) in Women’s K1 200m final and Hungary and Germany dominate 500m and 1000m events
New
Zealand’s golden girl Lisa Carrington and the 2011 World Champion
outperformed Hungarian great Natasa Douchev-Janics, a three-time Olympic
gold medallist, to win the Women’s K1 200m. It was the first Canoeing
medal won by a woman from New Zealand.
In
the Men’s K1 1000m Eirik Veras Larsen (NOR) regained the title eight
years after winning Olympic gold at Athens 2004. Adam Van Koeverden
(CAN), the 2011 World Champion, took silver holding off Max Hoff (GER)
as the German, who made a late effort took the bronze.
The
incredible Sebastian Brendal (GER) won the Men’s C1 1000m event ahead
of Beijing 2008 silver medallist and Athens 2004 Olympic champion David
Cal Figueroa (ESP). Cal came from the back in the last 200m to take the
silver medal ahead of Mark Oldershaw (CAN) who won bronze.
Men’s
K2 1000m duo Rudolf Dombi/Roland Kokeny (HUN) won the first Canoe
Sprint medal of the Games for Hungary, while Fernando Pimenta/Emanuel
Silva (POR) won silver. The silver medal was Portugal's first medal at
London 2012, and first ever in Canoeing. Germany’s Beijing 2008 gold
medalists Martin Hollstein/Andreas Ihle won the bronze medal.
Hungary
regained the Women’s K4 500m gold medal that had eluded them since the
Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. The quartet took the lead at the start of
the race and kept it till the end despite the late comeback from the
German squad who took silver. Belarus won the bronze medal and the
Polish quartet who made history in the semifinals by posting the world
best time finished in 4th place.
Peter
Kretschmer/Kurt Kuschela (GER) claimed the Men’s C2 1000m gold and
regained the title for Germany who last won this event at Athens 2004.
Perfect race secures first Canoeing gold medal for Australia in London
Twenty
years after winning the Men’s K4 1000m bronze medal at the Barcelona
1992 Olympic Games Australia took gold. The 2011 World
Championship silver medallists produced a perfect race taking a slight
advantage from the start and capitalizing on their gains as the race
progressed.
In
the Women’s K1 500m Danuta Kozak (HUN) won Hungary's second gold medal
of the competition. Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Inna Osypenko-Radomska
(UKR) won silver and Bridgitte Hartley (RSA), delivered another superb
performance in the final to win the bronze medal. It was the first medal
in the Women's Canoe Sprint competition for South Africa.
OFF THE WATER…
ICF President addresses gender inequality in Canoeing
Spurred
on by canoeist Samantha Rippington (GBR) who was prepared to launch a
High Court challenge in the UK, claiming a lack of equality in the
program, the ICF President Jose Perurena López addressed these concerns
in a one-on-on session with the media.
"It's
clear that for future Olympic Games we want to have equality amongst
the men and women events. It will work," he said. "I don't know (about)
2020, but sure in 2024 there will be equality. It's not possible that we
continue without including ladies in all the events in the Olympic
Games."
Not
to be overlooked are the advances the ICF has made towards gender
equality in Canoeing. Most recently the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) accepted the ICF’s proposal to include Women’s Canoe in both the
Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom competitions at the Youth Olympic Games.
As
a result, Women’s Canoe will be included in the Sport Programme at the
2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing China. A big victory for the
ICF’s Women’s Canoe programme and a major step towards equal gender
representation at the Summer Olympic Games.
The
ICF President however noted that it would take time for the Women’s C1
event in Canoe Sprint to grow to the extent that it would justify its
inclusion in the Sport Programme of the Olympic Games.
"The
problem for us is also the quota (of events in Canoeing)," Perurena
López said. "We have a very small quota. We need more quota places if we
want to include more women. Without that, it's difficult."
Canoe Team and volunteers central to Canoeing success at London 2012
At
the center of Canoeing’s success at London 2012 has been the Canoe
Team, brought on by the LOCOG. Spearheaded by LOCOG’s Canoe Manager John
MacLeod, the team worked diligently with the ICF during the planning
stages to ensure that the presentation of Canoeing at the Games was the
best.
Judging
by the spectator turnout and feedback from officials, their goal and
the ICF’s to showcase the sport at the highest level has been met with
flying colours.
In
conclusion, London 2012 has been good for Canoeing and while a thorough
assessment will have to be made following the official debrief of the
sport, there is no doubt that Canoeing came out on top at London 2012
and the bar has been set high for Rio 2016.
Access images from London 2012 here.
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About ICF:
The
International Canoe Federation (ICF) is the world governing body
responsible for administering the sport of Canoeing, which includes both
canoeing and kayaking. The ICF governs eight disciplines, two of which
are Olympic sports (Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom). The competition
categories of these two disciplines include Men’s Kayak, Men’s Canoe,
Women’s Kayak and Women’s Canoe. The ICF has 157 member associations and
is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its current President is
José Perurena López (ESP). To learn more about the ICF visit: www.canoeicf.com.
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