The difference between a kayak and a canoe is that a kayak has a closed in top, the athlete sits in it and the paddle is double-ended.
A canoe is open, the athlete kneels in it to paddle and the paddle has only one blade.
Men race in both kayaks and canoes, women in kayaks only.
Sprint canoe-kayak races are held on flat water with lanes marked out.
Women's events are 500 meters K1, K2, K4 (numbers show how many paddlers in the kayak.)
Men's events are the 500 meters and 1000 meters K1 and K2, 1000 meters K4 and 500 meters and 1000 meters C1 and C2 (canoes).
The slalom events are men's K1, C1 and C2 and women's K1.
In the slalom, paddlers have to make their way through 20 to 25 gates in very rough water over 300 meters. Paddlers try to finish the course in the fastest time. Penalty time is added on if a gate is touched.
