Mike Druce | Sydney - Currently at the Olympic Games in Canoe Slalom it is only possible for one female athlete per nation to compete out of a possible 5 athletes. Can the sport make steps towards gender equity before the next Olympics?

Jacques Rogge at the London Olympics opening:

For the first time in Olympic history all the participating teams will have female athletes. This is a major boost for gender equality.

During the 2012 Olympics ICF President José Perurena López said:

Since the ICF officially introduced C1W to the World Cup program three years ago the number of nations competing in C1W has risen against the other classes. It's clear that for future Olympic games we want to have equality amongst the men and women events. It will work, it's not possible that we continue without including ladies in all the events in the Olympic Games. 

Perurena also said it was the ICF's "full and first priority" to introduce the Women's Canoe Single (Women’s C1) to the Olympic slalom program.

Since the ICF officially introduced C1W to the World Cup program three years ago the number of nations competing in C1W has risen against the other classes (see graphic below. NF = National Federation)

In the past three years the winning C1W score has moved closer to the winning K1M score as a percentage.

Since 2010 when the C1W class was first officially a fully sanctioned event at the World Championships, participation has increased so that in 2012 there are 81 women from 24 national federations with an ICF Ranking. This progression has occurred without C1W being an Olympic discipline, and with very limited coaching or funding in most cases.

If C1W is designated an Olympic discipline it is reasonable to expect the number of nations, level of coaching and funding would increase greatly. The progress in performance and participation in the next 4 years to the Rio Olympics can be expected to be far greater.

In the first year of introduction of C1W to the Junior Worlds in 2010, 14 nations were represented. Prior to the re-entry of Slalom to the Olympic program in 1992 there were 15 National federations in K1W at the 1991 Senior World Championships and a maximum of 13 National federations in K1W at 1992 World Cups.

The only clear way to improve the gender equity for Canoe Slalom and bring the sport into line with the objectives of the Olympic movement, is to include Women’s C1 in the program for Rio 2016.

The evidence is clear. The C1 Women are now ready and will be far more prepared by 2016. Canoeing can move into line with other Olympic sports and take a step towards gender equity.

Overview of gender equality in the media: www.sportscene.tv/news/gender-equality-in-womens-canoeing-links-to-media