Canoe slalom is a timed event where competitors navigate a whitewater course by passing through a combination of upstream and downstream gates. Each course is different but can be a maximum of 300 metres in length and contain a maximum of 25 gates, with a minimum of six upstream gates. The type of gate is designated by colour, red for upstream and green for downstream. Courses are designed so the leading athletes will complete them in a time of between 90 and 110 seconds, though time penalties can be incurred for touching a gate (two seconds) and missing a gate (50 seconds).
Canoe slalom is contested by two types of boat, canoe (C) and kayak (K). In canoe, a single-blade paddle is used by an athlete who is strapped into the boat with their legs bent at the knees and tucked under their body, in contrast to the double-bladed paddle used in a seated position in kayak. At international level there are five events in canoe slalom, four individual (K1W, K1M, C1W, C1M) and one doubles (C2M). Only the C1W event is not part of the current Olympic programme, but is due to be included at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Canoe slalom originated in Switzerland in 1933 as a summer alternative to slalom skiing, and was initially competed on a flat-water course. Switzerland hosted the first world championships in Geneva in 1949 and the discipline made its Olympic debut as an introduction sport at the 1972 Games in Munich, when all four gold medals were won by East Germany. It was a further 20 years before canoe slalom returned to the Olympic Games, but this time as a core sport.
Information taken from here.
K1
Jessica Fox
C1
Kynan Maley – Swan Canoe Club Member! 2012 Olympics
C2
Robin Jeffery and Kynan Maley – 2012 Olympics