Impress your friends

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  Canoeing became popular in Switzerland in the 1930s as a summer months spin-off of slalom skiing

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  Slalom canoe first appeared in the Olympic programme at Munich 1972, but was excluded from the next four Games before returning at Barcelona 1992

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  At the Beijing 2008 Games, Benjamin Boukpeti became the first ever athlete from Togo to win an Olympic medal of any kind, taking bronze in the K-1 slalom event

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  At the London 2012 Games, the British pairings of Baillie-Stott and Florence-Hounslow took the gold and silver medals in the C-2 event, to the joy of the home fans

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  Olympic champion at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and London 2012 Games, France’s Tony Estanguet holds the record for most golds in singles slalom canoeing

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  Slovak twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner have won medals together in the last four Olympic C-2 events – three golds followed by bronze at London 2012

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  For safety, athletes must wear helmets and life jackets

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  Kayaks were first built by indigenous North American tribes, including the Eskimos

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  Boats are identified by the letter K (kayak) or C (canoe) followed by the number of paddlers