Athletes endorse 2016 Olympics canoe slalom venue

Rio de Janeiro, Dec 1: The Rio 2016 international canoe slalom course won widespread praise from athletes after the completion of the sport’s official Olympic test event.

“It’s already my favorite course. For me, it’s the best in the world,” Brazilian canoeist Ana Satila told Rio2016.com on on Monday.

Satila, who finished sixth in the K1 women’s final, said the test event allowed her to envisage how the competition might pan out next year, reports Xinhua.

“We are now moving on to the World Cup, but with the advantage of having trained hard here, which will give us the experience we need to arrive well at the Games,” the 19-year-old said.

Italy’s Daniele Molmenti, the current K1 Olympic champion, praised the tricky nature of the course. “There was no room to breathe. It demanded a lot, both physically and mentally.”

Likewise, three-time C1 Olympic champion Tony Estanguet, who was at the Deodoro Park venue as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) athlete commission, gave his approval.

“Every five metres you have something different,” the Frenchman said. “The course is very demanding and it was a key step for the athletes to come to the test event. It has given them confidence.

“Everyone showed themselves to be serious and focused. I saw it in their eyes. I had a good feeling about the overall atmosphere,” Estanguet added. (IANS)