Canoe/Kayak-Sprint first jumped into the spotlight on this continent when Nathaniel H. BISHOP paddled a paper canoe from New York to Florida in 1874. Fifty years later, the sport was demonstrated at the Paris Games. Canoeist Bill HAVENS (USA) was a favorite, but opted to stay home for the birth of his son, Frank. Twenty-eight years later, Frank HAVENS won the gold medal in the now discontinued C1 10,000m event a fitting tribute to his father.
Sprint racing has been on the Olympic Programme since 1936, but women's kayaking first became an Olympic sport in 1948. Women still do not compete in canoes a tradition yet to be contested.
Many women have made their names in sprint racing, among them Germany's Birgit FISCHER SCHMIDT, who earned four gold and two silver medals over her 12-year Olympic career, despite having a child in 1986 and missing out in 1984 -she was the favorite, but her country boycotted the Los Angeles Games. Not to be forgotten is Francine FOX, who was a mere 15 years old in 1964 when she teamed up with Glorianne PERRIER, just five years her elder, to capture the silver in the K2 500m sprint.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight.
| The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July). |