Canoe Sprint at the 1948 Summer Olympics

The 1948 canoeing competition was contested at the Henley Royal Regatta Course on the River Thames on London. This was also the site of the 1948 rowing competition and had been the site of the 1908 Olympic rowing events. Women made their Olympic début in canoeing, contesting a kayak singles event over 500 metres. Men had eight events, with four canoe sprint events, all over 1,000 metres in kayak singles and doubles, and Canadian singles and doubles.

There were several other canoeing events conducted in London in 1948 as part of the World Championships. These included the men’s K1-500 and K2-500, a men’s kayak 4 x 500 relay, a men’s K4-1,000 event, and a women’s K2-500 event, but they were not considered part of the Olympic Program.