Paracanoe

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Australian Curtis McGrath celebrates his win in the men's VL3 va'a event at the Tokyo Paralympics. 040921 McGrath celebrates va'a win Tokyo KM edit.JPEG
Australian Curtis McGrath celebrates his win in the men's VL3 va'a event at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Paracanoe is canoeing for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The Paralympic version of the sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF), [1] and a va'a-specific variant is governed by the International Va'a Federation (IVF). [2]

Contents

A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the Paralympic programme. [3] As a result, paracanoe debuted at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics where single kayak races were contested. [4] [1] [5]

Equipment

The two main types of paracanoe boat are kayaks (K), with a double-blade paddle, and outrigger canoes called va'as (V) where the paddler has a second hull as a support float and uses a single blade paddle with a T-top handle.

ICF paracanoe

Classification

In the single kayak, there are three event classifications (linked to different levels of mobility impairment) for both men and women:

There is also a three-tier ICF classification system in place for single va'a events (VL1, VL2, VL3).

Competition format

All international paracanoe competitions are held over 200 metres in single kayak or va'a boats. [7]

It is contested at World Championships, World Cups and continental championships. As of November 2021, ten of the twelve events (all six kayak events, both VL2 and VL3 events) are also on the Paralympic programme. [8]

ICF World Championships

At the 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Dartmouth, four 'paddability' races featured as non-medal exhibition events, including two male-female mixed disciplines in kayak doubles and in doubles canoe ('aka' Canadian or kneeling canoeing).

The sport made its official World Championship debut in 2010 and has been contested at every World Championship since, including the standalone Paralympic-year ICF Paracanoe World Championships in 2012 and 2016.

IVF paracanoe

In IVF competition, a points system is used with a higher number assigned to less impaired paddlers and lower points for more severe impairment.

In team events the total number of points of a boat crew are limited; 26 points in 6-person boats and 52 for 12-person boats. In single-seat boats competition take place in three divisions; division 1 for 5 or 6-point paddlers, division 2 for 4-point paddlers and division 3 is for 2 or 3-point paddlers. 1-point paddlers do not participate in singles races. [9] : 1  The three divisions approximately correspond to the three ICF va'a classes. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Canoe Federation</span> International canoeing governing body

The International Canoe Federation (ICF) is the umbrella organization of all national canoe organizations worldwide. It is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and administers all aspects of canoe sport worldwide. 157 countries are affiliated with the ICF after seven national federations were added at the 2008 ICF Congress in Rome.

The ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships are an international event in canoe racing, one of two Summer Olympic sport events organized by the International Canoe Federation. The World Championships have taken place every non-Olympic year since 1970 and officially included paracanoe events since 2010; since 2012, paracanoe-specific editions of this event have been held in Summer Paralympic years.

Paracanoe classification is the classification system for paracanoe. It consists of three categories KL1, KL2 and KL3. Paracanoe will be included for the first time at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. The sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Henshaw</span> British Paralympic swimmer

Charlotte Sarah Henshaw is a British Paralympic full-time athlete across multiple disciplines. Originally a swimmer, she changed to canoeing from 2017, becoming the reigning World champion in the KL2 (five-time) and VL3 (three-time) 200m events. In September 2021, at the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, she became a Paralympic champion at her fourth games, winning the Women's KL2 event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paracanoe at the Summer Paralympics</span>

Paracanoe debuted at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the roster of the Summer Paralympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis McGrath</span> Australian paracanoeist

Curtis Wain McGrath, is an Australian paracanoeist and former soldier. He took up canoeing competitively after both of his legs were amputated as a result of a mine blast while serving with the Australian Army in Afghanistan. McGrath won consecutive gold medals in the Men's KL2 at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and has won ten gold medals and a silver at ICF Paracanoe World Championships between 2014 and 2019.

The 2015 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, the 41st edition of the World Championships, were held from 19–23 August 2015 in Milan, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Seipel</span> Australian paracanoeist

Susan Seipel is an Australian Para-canoeist, a gold and bronze medallist in kayak and outrigger canoe at the 2015 and 2016 World Championships. She won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poland at the 2016 Summer Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Poland competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016.

The KL3 class is for paracanoe paddlers with trunk function and partial leg function. A KL3 class paddler should be able to sit within a forward flexed position. Paddlers use a foot board or the seat to propel the boat. Eligible paddlers typically meet one of the following:

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. These athletes may be able to use a footboard to propel the canoe depending on leg function. Eligible paddlers typically meet one of the following:

The KL1 Class is for paracanoe paddlers who have very limited or no trunk function and no leg function. A KL1 class paddler is able to apply force predominantly using the arms and/or shoulders. These athletes will likely also have poor sitting balance and typically need a seat with a high backrest. Eligible paddlers typically meet one of the following:

The 2017 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, the 43rd edition of the World Championships, were held in Račice, Czech Republic, from 23 to 27 August 2017.

The 2016 ICF Paracanoe World Championships was held in Duisburg, Germany, from 17 to 19 May 2016. This event, which is usually part of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, was held separately as the latter is not held in Olympic years. It shared the venue with, and was held concurrently with the 2016 European Canoe Sprint Olympic Qualifier tournament.

The 2018 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, the 44th edition of the World Championships, were held in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, from 22 to 26 August 2018.

The 2019 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, the 45th edition of the World Championships, were held in Szeged, Hungary from 21 to 25 August 2019.

The 2018 Hungarian Canoe Sprint Championships was held in Szolnok, from 29 to 31 August 2018.

The 2019 Paracanoe European Championships was held in Poznań, Poland, from 21 to 22 May 2019. This event, which is usually part of the Canoe Sprint European Championships, was held separately as the ECA chose not to organise said event because of the European Games.

Anas Al Khalifa is a paracanoeist, who competed for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Born in Syria, he now lives in Germany.

The 2012 ICF Paracanoe World Championships were held on 16 and 17 May 2012 in Poznań, Poland as a standalone event since the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships are not held in Olympic years.

References

  1. 1 2 "Canoe | IPC". Paralympic.org. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  2. ↑ "About the IVF". International Va’a Federation. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Paratriathlon and canoeing for 2016 - Paralympics news - London 2012 | MSN Sport UK". Sport.uk.msn.com. 2010-12-16. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  4. ↑ "BBC Sport - Disability Sports - Canoeing and triathlon added to 2016 Paralympic Games". BBC News. 2010-12-11. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  5. ↑ "Para-Canoeing added to roster for 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio". Paddling Life. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  6. ↑ "CANOE". Paralympics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2015-04-13.
  7. ↑ "What is Paracanoe?". International Canoe Federation. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Women's VL3 added to Paris 2024 Paralympic Games schedule". British Canoeing. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "AP Rules and Classification System". International Va'a Federation. 2009-10-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-08-27.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ "Paracanoe Leaflet" (PDF). International Canoe Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
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