USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team finishes strong after a busy eleven days of racing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Canoe slalom athletes enjoyed the energy of packed stands and a live DJ from the start of racing on Saturday, July 27 through the final kayak cross events on Tuesday, August 6. Evy Leibfarth and Casey Eichfeld each had their first Olympic races on Saturday, July 27. Both athletes qualified for the semifinals in their events, Evy in women’s kayak single, Casey in men’s canoe single. On the second day of racing, Evy and Casey didn’t have the runs they were hoping for and did not progress to their event’s finals.
Evy, who was to compete in all three women’s events shifted her focus to her next day of racing, women’s canoe single heats to take place on Tuesday, July 30. With solid first and second runs, Evy progressed to the women’s canoe single semifinal. Her performance in the semifinal the next day allowed her to just sneak through to the final where she was to be the first of the twelve paddlers to head down the course for the women’s canoe single final.
After Evy’s run, there were still eleven of the fastest women’s canoe single racers in the world to make their bid for the Olympic title. Tension steadily mounted after one racer after the next put down times slower than Evy’s. It wasn’t until the final racer of the day completed the course that Evy’s spot on the podium was secured.
With tears of joy streaming from her eyes, Evy embraced her family, friends, and fellow racers. She had just earned her first Olympic medal and the first U.S. women’s slalom Olympic medal in the last 20 years with her breakout performance in the women’s canoe single event.
Casey and Evy each enjoyed a day off from competition on Thursday, August 1 while the competitors in the men’s kayak single event raced for the podium. On Friday, August 2, they were back at it for the men’s and women’s kayak cross time trials. This was the first day that Casey dropped off a kayak cross ramp, 3-meters above the water’s surface.
Saturday, August 3, thousands of spectators came to witness the Olympic debut of kayak cross. Evy first to the finish in her race advanced to the women’s kayak heats to take place the next day. Casey came to the Paris 2024 Olympics to compete in men’s canoe single but given the opportunity to race in kayak cross as well, he said, “why not?” Casey did not progress to heats but shared that, “kayak cross is a lot of fun and a may have caught the bug.”
Evy was the first to finish in her kayak cross heat on Sunday, August 4 and advanced to the quarterfinals to take place the next day. Many heavy hitters were knocked out of the quarterfinals on Monday, August 5, including Evy Leibfarth. After her final race of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Evy reflected, “I had my dream race in canoe and am grateful to have raced in the women’s kayak and women’s kayak cross events as well. This is my childhood dream and I’m just really happy to be here.”
With canoe slalom racing officially concluded for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Casey Eichfeld is heading to Disney Land Paris with his wife and daughter before heading home. Evy will stay for the rest of the Games to cheer on her friends competing in other sports.
Congratulations to Evy Leibfarth and Casey Eichfeld on their incredible accomplishment of qualifying for and competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics!
USA Results
Evy Leibfarth
- WK1 – 15th place
- WC1 – 3rd place
- WX1 – 10th place
Casey Eichfeld
- MC1 – 16th place
- MX1 – 37th place
Paris 2024 Olympic Podiums
WK1
- AUS Jessica Fox 1st
- POL Klaudia Zwolinska 2nd
- GBR Kimberley Woods 3rd
WC1
- AUS Jessica Fox 1st
- GER Elena Lilik 2nd
- USA Evy Leibfarth 3rd
WX1
- AUS Noemie Fox 1st
- FRA Angele Hug 2nd
- GBR Kimberley Woods 3rd
MK1
- ITA Giovanni de Gennaro 1st
- FRA Titouan Castryck 2nd
- ESP Pau Echaniz 3rd
MC1
- FRA Nicolas Gestin 1st
- GBR Adam Burgess 2nd
- SVK Matej Benus 3rd
MX1
- NZL Finn Butcher 1st
- GBR Joseph Clarke 2nd
- GER Noah Hegge 3rd