Originated: 1936 Berlin Games (demo sport in 1924 Paris O-Games); wherever there was water and a paddle back in the day. American Indians used them a lot to travel.
Where Popular: Wherever there is water and canoe and kayak accessibility.
Best Athletes: For the kayak - Rene Holten Poulsen (Denmark - men), Edward McKeever (Great Britain- men); Spela Ponomarkenko (Slovakia - women), Henriette Engel Hansen (Denmark- women), Marta Walczykiewicz (Poland - women). For the canoe - Andriy Kraytor (Azerbaijan - men) and Mark Oldershaw (Canada - men)
Best Teams: Former Soviet Union, Germany, Hungary at least in the past. European dominated.
Recent Champions: Germany, Russia, Canada.
Interesting Tidbit: 85 nations have fielded a canoe/kayak team since the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
Have you ever canoed or kayaked before? Did you know that canoeing is most likely more difficult than kayaking minus the rapids. Endurance, and strength are two things that are necessary for both of these boats. Having to navigate through goals or posts set up while rapids provide resistance. An athlete needs core stability, upper body strength, reactive agility, quick reflexes, the ability to change direction using a device, flexible, and get this...he or she needs to be lightweight. Yes, lightweight.
It is an exciting sport to watch, and most likely an exciting one in which to participate. Could a non-athlete perform canoe and kayak drills in the gym? Sure! Why not use the body bar for something other than wasteful curls and other less functional exercises. Why not use a core bar hooked to the cable machine? But, the body bar is a big favorite for this sport.
Whether the event or boat is in rough water or flat water, this sport is something to recognize.
Olympic dreams,
Derek
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