The Para Canoe competition starts on September 6 with three days of action and promises to be an exciting competition with 100 Para athletes.

During the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, the para-canoe race will take place among 450 newly planted trees in the Vaires-sur-Marne water sports stadium, where the para-rowing also took place.

Para athletes compete for medals in ten events using two types of boats; kayak and va’a, on a 200m course. Para canoe was introduced at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games with kayak-only events, the va’a made its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Kayaking is the faster discipline and athletes use a double-bladed paddle. The va’as have an outrigger attached to one side of the boat to help with balance and athletes use a single-bladed paddle as they try to be the first to reach the finish line.

During three Paralympic Games with Parakano, Great Britain has been the most successful nation, with a total of 12 medals, six of which are gold. Ukraine and Australia, respectively second and third in the sport’s Paralympic medal table, occupy six podium places with three wins each.

Five storylines for Para canoe…

Kiss ready to repeat ‘unforgettable’ experience in Tokyo

Hungarian Peter Kiss became the youngest Paralympic canoeing champion in Tokyo when he won the gold medal in the KL1 at the age of 18.

“When I heard my country’s national anthem during the Tokyo Paralympic Games, I felt an indescribable, enormous pride,” Kiss said.

He has been a sensation in the sport since winning his first world title in 2019 at the age of 16 and will be the man to beat in Paris, where he hopes to repeat the feat of his Paralympic debut three years ago.

“This is my biggest goal right now and I’m doing my best to make it happen. I think it’s much harder to defend a title than to win it,” said Kiss, looking forward to his second Games.

“I wish everyone an unforgettable experience there, like I had in Tokyo.”

Wiggs and Henshaw lead British search for gold

British athletes are looking to extend their lead in the para-canoeing medal table and are top favourites in several para-canoeing events at the Paris 2024 competition.

Multi-talented Charlotte Henshaw won two Paralympic medals in Paralympic swimming before moving up to the KL2 for women. She has won all world titles since 2018 and the Paralympic title in Tokyo 2020.

Another British sports exchanger, Emma Wiggs, who beat the sitting volleyball team at London 2012, won gold in the women’s VLT event and silver in the KL2 kayak event at Tokyo 2020. She could win another medal for Britain in Paris.

“(Defending both titles in Paris) would be amazing, but the world really tried hard,” said Wiggs, who became the first female para-canoe athlete to win two medals at one Games.

‘Steel cowboy’ on the hunt for more valuable metals

Brazilian Fernando Rufino de Paulo has been nicknamed the “Steel Cowboy” after suffering 80 accidents in his life and becoming a four-time world champion.

The Brazilian, who became the first paddler to win a gold medal for Brazil at the Paralympic Games, took up para-canoeing after a career as a rodeo bull rider.

“I had a goal in rodeo and canoeing was a continuation of that. I just changed my modality, but I continued with the same goal of traveling abroad and experiencing other cultures and languages.”

At Tokyo 2020, the 39-year-old added a Paralympic VL2 gold to his impressive medal collection and he will be looking to defend that title in Paris.

Seipel wants to complete the collection

Former Australian Para dressage rider Susan Steipel is a three-time VL2 women’s world champion. In two Paralympic Para canoe appearances in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, she has won bronze and silver and hopes to complete her medal haul in the French capital this summer.

Can McGrath defend his two gold medals?

Steipel’s teammate Curtis McGrath made history at Tokyo 2020, becoming the first Parakano athlete to win two gold medals at a single Games. The 36-year-old Australian defended the Kl2 title he won in the sport’s debut at Rio 2016 and won the first-ever men’s VL3.

In Paris he hopes to defend both titles, which will probably be his last participation in the Games.

“I think Paris will be my last Games and I want to enjoy every moment of it. (With no fans in Tokyo) It will be very special to race with our friends and teammates watching,” McGrath said.

“To become a Paralympic champion, you have to work hard, make some sacrifices, have a sore body and spend time away from your family. You have to be really dedicated and know what you want to achieve… But it’s all about the journey.”

Follow the Para Canoe schedule and results