With just 200 days to go until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games get underway, British Canoeing has today launched its Paddle to Paris Campaign.
The campaign will encompass a whole raft of activities in the build up and during both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, information regarding the Games, selected athletes and other exciting opportunities to get involved with across the summer.
To launch the campaign, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Hub is now available on the website, where fans can find all the information they need; from profiles of selected athletes, latest news and information on the upcoming selection events and the Paris 2024 venue.
Additional information will follow throughout the year with details of how you can get involved.
In November, TeamGB announced the first four paddlers selected to go to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with Olympic Champion Joe Clarke MBE, Tokyo silver medallist Mallory Franklin, Kimberley Woods and Adam Burgess all returning for their second Olympics.
Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion Joe Clarke returns to Team GB and will contest the men's kayak single (K1), the event in which he won gold seven years ago. He will also be competing in the thrilling new Olympic event kayak cross, which is set to make its Games debut in Paris next year.
He said: “I can't wait for Paris and I'm delighted to be selected for the Games. Obviously, I missed out on Tokyo and to go again eight years later is great. I'm a completely different athlete now.
The squad also boasts 2023 C1 World Champion Mallory Franklin who made history in Tokyo, as she prepares to race the women's canoe single (C1) and women's kayak cross.
Mallory said: “Medalling in every World Championships since Tokyo gives me some added confidence ahead of Paris. I really want to enjoy the experience. It will be a different experience to Tokyo with the crowd and atmosphere. I will embrace it.”
Tokyo Olympian and 2023 Kayak Cross World Champion Kimberley Woods will be doubling up in Paris, contesting both the women's kayak single (K1) and the kayak cross.
She said: “I'm really excited to be a part of Team GB again for Paris 2024. Some people don't get to go to one Olympics so I feel very fortunate to be going to my second Games.”
Completing the team will be Tokyo 2020 finalist and C1 team world silver medallist Adam Burgess who is returning for his second consecutive Games in the men's canoe single (C1).
He said: “I'm so excited to be racing in Paris next year. It's one thing making it to the Olympics once, but to be a two-time Olympian is fantastic.”