Paracanoe is the canoeing discipline for athletes with an impairment and races are contested by two types of boat, kayak (K) and va’a (V). The kayak is propelled by a double-blade paddle, while the va’a is a rudderless, outrigger canoe which has an ama (second pontoon) as a support float and is used with a single-blade paddle. Both kayak and va’a have three different classes of events for men and women, depending on the classification of an athlete’s impairment, with KL1, KL2 and KL3 for kayak and VL1, VL2 and VL3 for va’a. At international level all paracanoe races are individual events and competed at a distance of 200m.
Olympic & Paralympic
Paracanoe
Paracanoe with the San Diego Canoe & Kayak Team
- 2023 Events & Information
- 2024 Paris Paralympic Events
- Grants Available to Paracanoe Coaches
- 2023 Paracanoe Selection Criteria
- Team Trial Race Card will be drafted by the Chief Official by Tuesday, April 7, 2023.
- Men’s Kayak Single (MKL1)
- Men’s Kayak Single (MKL2)
- Men’s Kayak Single (MKL3)
- Men’s Va’a Single (MVL2)
- Men’s Va’a Single (MVL3)
- Women’s Kayak Single (WKL1)
- Women’s Kayak Single (WKL2)
- Women’s Kayak Single (WKL3)
- Women’s Va’a Single (WVL2)
- Women’s Va’a Single (WVL3)
Opportunity for Paralympic Athletes:
2-hour, 1-1 consulting with Josh Basile, Esq. to address the diverse challenges surrounding employment, family, finances, and disability benefits to support Paralympic athletes. This attached flyer includes more information and a link to register.
The following paracanoe sprint events are part of the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic program:
Please click here to view a list of grants available for athletes with disabilities.
