On October 12, 2023, the 2024 International Canoe Federation “Hangzhou Super Cup” kicked off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, featuring four competitive events: flatwater kayaking, slalom kayaking, kayak marathon, and canoe polo. This event is remarkable as it is the first of its kind globally to combine all four disciplines in one premier international competition.
The tournament spans three days and has attracted over 530 elite athletes from 36 countries and regions, including 13 Olympic champions. On the second day of competition, the flatwater kayaking men’s single kayak 500 meters races got underway. The Chinese canoeing team participated in full force, with Olympic champions Xu Shixiao, Sun Mengya, Liu Hao, and Ji Bowen racing in the singles category, alongside other prominent athletes like Xing Song, Shuai Changwen, Wang Congkang, Li Dongyan, Yu Shimeng, and Yin Mengdie.
Amidst the post-Olympic adjustment period, where many mainstay athletes are still on break or just returning to training, younger talents stepped up during this major tournament. In the women’s single kayak 500 meters event, rising star Jiang Xina clinched the gold medal with a time of 2:19.278, while Li Shuqing secured the silver medal.
In the women’s single canoe 500 meters final, Chinese athlete Wang Nan withstood pressure from Denmark’s Joan Jørgensen, the bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, and won gold with a remarkable time of 2:03.549. The Chinese canoeing team ultimately earned two gold medals and one silver in the flatwater single kayak 500 meters events.
Notably, one of the most exciting and competitive events, canoe polo, commenced on the same day. The tournament features 12 teams each for both men and women, showcasing almost all of the world’s top ten teams, including the currently ranked number one German team. After a day of fierce competition, the women’s semifinals saw Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Spain advance, while the men’s semifinals featured Spain, Germany, New Zealand, and the UK.
Additionally, the “Hangzhou Super Cup” introduced a special exhibition event on the same day — a mixed dragon boat race over 200 meters. This event featured voluntary participation from flatwater kayaking athletes from various countries. The fourth boat, led by Olympic champion Liu Hao, dominated the race, crossing the finish line first. “Winning time isn’t what’s important. What matters is leading our international friends to experience the ‘Chinese Dragon,’ enjoy the beautiful scenery of Fuyang, and have a great time,” Liu Hao remarked after the race.
German canoeing star Max Lemke, who has won three gold medals in canoeing at the Paris and Tokyo Olympics, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This is my first time participating in a dragon boat event, and I found it very exciting, especially being with athletes from different countries. Plus, dragon boats are more stable than our kayaks, so I was happy to finish without getting drenched!”
