‘Mario Kart with boats’: Meet kayak cross, the sport taking over social media and making its Olympic debut

It's hard to pinpoint *** single exchange. It's just been ***, *** whirlwind of love and support and it's, it's so surreal to be, you know, having this gold medal hang from my neck. Um But I think something that really meant the most to me was just being in that final and, and being next to um Kim and Ant and thinking, you know, we have invested so much into Kaya Cross. Um you know, we've really, really hard and, and an was with me in, in Prague where we tried to get that extra quota spot for our country. So to be there in Paris and to be in that final with, you know, such big names that really deserved to be, there was *** moment where I thought, wow, just enjoy it. And um you know, live off the crowd and, and uh yeah, I think now every single ex exchange means so much to me still. But obviously, you know, sharing that with my, my family and, and um my whole team and, and my friends that came from Australia as well has been super, super special.

This is not what kayak fans are used to seeing at the Olympics.Competitors' boats drop into the water from a 15-foot-high platform as three other paddlers work furiously to gain traction.Video above: Noemie Fox revels in 'super special' kayak cross winThen, in bumper-car-like fashion, those athletes can ram the other kayaks at any time as they work their way around gates in different directions similar to downhill skiing. And before they reach the end, these Olympians have to go completely underwater to execute a 360-degree Eskimo roll.This new event is Kayak Cross, with elements that sound like a local amusement park ride. Competitors can't really plan for what's going to happen."That is what I love about the sport," New Zealand women's kayaker Luuka Jones said. "You are in these different situations on white water and have to react in the moment and trust your instincts. That is the biggest strategy, trusting your instincts."The finals for the men and women will be Monday.Launching off the platform is the biggest thrill for Italian men's kayaker Giovanni De Gennaro, this year's gold medalist in kayak singles on Thursday."The best part is probably the ramp," he said. "We usually need to get our speed with our arms and our strength, but with the ramp you can use gravity to get the boost. You feel like you're sprinting immediately when you land."New Zealand men's kayaker Finn Butcher said speed is still the goal, even amid the chaos. But that everyone also has to be smart. Competitors can be disqualified for going on the wrong side of the gates. And though they can make contact with other boats, they can't hit the other competitors."It's a lot of adaptation in the run," he said. "For me, the best form of defense is to get out in front and be by yourself, so that's the main goal. If you end up in the melee, you need to adapt to the situation."Australia's Noemie Fox said nothing that happens on the course is to be taken personally."If you get ganged up on or if things don't go your way," she said, "that's just the sport."Britain's Joseph Clarke, a world champion in 2023, is ranked No. 1 in the world by the International Canoe Federation and had the fastest qualifying time on Friday. He said kayak cross should draw interest."I really see this as a gateway to the sport," he said. "It's not quite as technical as the slalom, and I think it's going to be a really big hit on the TV."

VAIRES-SUR-MARNE, France —

This is not what kayak fans are used to seeing at the Olympics.

Competitors' boats drop into the water from a 15-foot-high platform as three other paddlers work furiously to gain traction.

Video above: Noemie Fox revels in 'super special' kayak cross win

Then, in bumper-car-like fashion, those athletes can ram the other kayaks at any time as they work their way around gates in different directions similar to downhill skiing. And before they reach the end, these Olympians have to go completely underwater to execute a 360-degree Eskimo roll.

This new event is Kayak Cross, with elements that sound like a local amusement park ride. Competitors can't really plan for what's going to happen.

"That is what I love about the sport," New Zealand women's kayaker Luuka Jones said. "You are in these different situations on white water and have to react in the moment and trust your instincts. That is the biggest strategy, trusting your instincts."

The finals for the men and women will be Monday.

Launching off the platform is the biggest thrill for Italian men's kayaker Giovanni De Gennaro, this year's gold medalist in kayak singles on Thursday.

"The best part is probably the ramp," he said. "We usually need to get our speed with our arms and our strength, but with the ramp you can use gravity to get the boost. You feel like you're sprinting immediately when you land."

New Zealand men's kayaker Finn Butcher said speed is still the goal, even amid the chaos. But that everyone also has to be smart. Competitors can be disqualified for going on the wrong side of the gates. And though they can make contact with other boats, they can't hit the other competitors.

"It's a lot of adaptation in the run," he said. "For me, the best form of defense is to get out in front and be by yourself, so that's the main goal. If you end up in the melee, you need to adapt to the situation."

Australia's Noemie Fox said nothing that happens on the course is to be taken personally.

"If you get ganged up on or if things don't go your way," she said, "that's just the sport."

Britain's Joseph Clarke, a world champion in 2023, is ranked No. 1 in the world by the International Canoe Federation and had the fastest qualifying time on Friday. He said kayak cross should draw interest.

"I really see this as a gateway to the sport," he said. "It's not quite as technical as the slalom, and I think it's going to be a really big hit on the TV."

‘Mario Kart with boats’: Meet kayak cross, the sport taking over social media and making its Olympic debut

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