Canoe Sprint at the 1992 Summer Olympics

The biggest change in 1992 Olympic canoeing was that whitewater slalom canoeing was returned to the Olympic Programme. It had been contested at the 1972 München Olympics, and has been on the Olympic Programme since 1992. The flatwater programme in 1992 was the same as in 1984-88, with nine men’s events (five kayak, four Canadian canoe) and three women’s kayak events, all canoe sprint events. The overall canoeing programme in 1992 would become a standard, and would remain the same through 2008, although some changes would start being made at London 2012.

Germany dominated the sprint canoe events in 1992, winning six of the 12 gold medals, and nine medals in all. Bulgaria also won two gold medals and three medals.

The flatwater events were contested in 1992 at the Canal Olímpico de Cataluña, in Castelldefels, a town 20 km southwest of Barcelona. The facility was constructed in 1991 for the Barcelona Olympics. Rowing was contested at another venue in 1992, as had already happened in 1952 and 1964.