NZ Canoe Sprint Team’s “one chance” to Qualify Olympic K4 boats

The team’s key mission is to make history by qualifying both a men’s and women’s K4 (four-person kayak) boat for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

While New Zealand has seen strong results in K4 boats at the Olympics in the past, a male and female K4 boat have never competed at the same Olympic event.

For the K4 boat class, the World Championships is the only qualifying regatta for participation in the 2024 Olympics. 10 countries will book their places in Paris for the K4 500m. The quota rules stipulate that there has to be four continents represented, meaning the first boat to finish from the first four continents, no matter what the overall placing, will be on the way to the Olympics.

In the men’s and women’s K1 and K2 (two-person kayak) 500m there are six Olympic quota boat spots per event. As per the quota rules an athlete can only earn one quota for their country. For example if our women’s K4 qualified, then Lisa Carrington cannot also earn a quota in K1 500m. But she could still compete in the K1 500m boat class at the Paris Olympics because the K4 qualification allows New Zealand to also enter a K1 boat.

The K1 and K2 500 boat classes will have another chance to qualify boats at the Oceania Championships in March 2024.

“Our priority at the upcoming world championships is to qualify both the men’s and women’s K4 spots for the Olympics. We have one chance to do that and it is at this event,” said Nathan Luce, CRNZ General Manager of Performance.

New Zealand are aiming to have a full team at the Olympics, with a maximum of 6 men and 6 women allowed as per ICF rules. This could mean up to 5 boats racing in male and female events – one K4, two K2 and two K1. It is important to note that qualifications are for boats, rather than athletes.

Qualification chances are promising in the women’s K4 class, with Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan claiming third at the World Cup One in May.

The men’s K4 boat of Max Brown, Zach Ferkins, Kurtis Imrie and Hamish Legarth were a mere 0.25 seconds out from an A final spot at World Cup One, proving they are right in check with the pace needed to qualify.

The big boat racing is not the only action in store at this pinnacle event.

New Zealand paracanoe paddlers Scott Martlew, Corbin Hart and Peter Cowan are hoping to secure their spots for Paris 2024 Paralympics in the KL2, KL3 and VL3 disciplines. In the Paracanoe, each nation can qualify one athlete per discipline. New Zealand will have one final opportunity to qualify for the Paralympics at next year’s World Cup in Szeged. 

An exciting new combination in the Women’s K2 500m is set to debut with Aimee Fisher and Danielle McKenzie joining forces. Aimee was the 2021 K1 500m World Champion and Danielle Mckenzie, a World Ocean Ski Champion, has made an impressive entry into canoe sprint. She will also make a debut in the WK1 5000m event.

Dame Lisa Carrington, five-times Olympic gold medalist, will be looking to defend her K1 500m World Championship title.

Ashton Reiser is competing in the Men’s K1 200m & 500m, and Quaid Thompson in the Men’s K1 1000m event.

The New Zealand Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe team have just arrived in Duisburg after their final preparations in France.

“It was an outstanding camp as a full team together in France. Everyone is in great spirits. The quality of our training and the opportunity to do race simulation with the French and Canadian teams has our athletes ready for racing this Wednesday,” says Nathan Luce.

The event livestream coverage will start this Wednesday 7pm NZT. 

Find out everything you need to know to keep up with the action here.