A paddle sport in which athletes sit in a closed kayak and use a double-bladed paddle on flatwater or whitewater.
Origin and rules
Kayaks were developed thousands of years ago by the Inuit and Yupik peoples of the Arctic for hunting in cold waters. The sport spread to Europe in the 19th century and was codified for competition in the early 20th century.
How it plays
Olympic kayaking includes sprint, slalom, and a cross event. Sprint races run 200, 500, or 1000 metres; slalom kayakers navigate gates on a whitewater course. The double-bladed paddle distinguishes kayaks from open canoes.
Competition
The ICF Canoe Sprint and Slalom World Championships and the Olympics are the leading events. Hungary, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom field strong teams. Kayak slalom became Olympic at Munich 1972.
Find more sports by letter
Kayaking starts with K and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Kayaking":