What is the canoe sprint in the Olympics?
Canoe sprint sees competitors race each other on a flatwater course over distances between 200 and 1000 metres. There are two types of boats: canoes, where the athlete is strapped into the boat in a kneeling position using a single-blade paddle, and kayaks with the athletes seated and employing a double-bladed paddle. Kayaks are a lot more nimble and speedy than canoes, due to their shape, their lighter weight and the double-bladed paddle, which allows for quicker and more agile piloting. Canoes, meanwhile, are more stable and harder to capsize.