Canoe Sprint is the traditional form of canoe racing. Previously, it was called canoe/kayak flatwater. Canoe Sprint events are held for both canoes (where athletes race kneeling on one knee and using a single-bladed paddle) and kayaks (where athletes use a double-bladed paddle while sitting).
The Olympic discipline of canoe sprint is contested on flatwater over four distances – 200m, 500m, 1000m & 5000m. Introduced to the Games in 1924 it became a full medal sport by the 1936 Berlin Games. In Canoe Sprint events, athletes race on a straight course with each boat in a separate lane. There are kayak events in single(K1), double(K2) and four(K4) boats, and canoe events in single(C1) and double(C2) boats. In a kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a two-blade paddle, while in a canoe, the paddler is kneeling on one knee, and uses a single-blade paddle.