Paris 2024 Canoe Sprint: All results, as People's Republic of China defend women's 500m canoe double title

It was déjà vu at the Vaires-sur-Marne in Paris 2024 as the People’s Republic of China's Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya defended their title in the women's canoe sprint double 500m, setting a new Olympic best in the process.

Their gold medal performance not only solidified their dominance in the second edition of this Olympic event but also mirrored the results of Tokyo 2020, where all three of the same National Olympic Committees (NOCs) stood tall on the podium: China, Ukraine, and Canada.

Xu and Sun crossed the finish line with a blistering time of 1:52.81, a new Olympic best, cementing their legacy as one of the most formidable duos in the sport.

But for Xu and Sun, this race was more than just a repeat performance. It was the culmination of three years of relentless preparation, driven by a singular focus: defending their Olympic title. “We know that if the gold medal is not ours, it means nothing,” Sun said. “From the first Games to now, and from the start line to the finish line, we just tried to be our best selves.”

Indeed, their best was needed as Ukraine’s Liudmyla Luzan and Anastasiia Rybachok once again proved to be fierce opponents. Matching their silver-medal finish from Tokyo 2020, the Ukrainian pair delivered a powerful and consistent performance, finishing just 1.49 seconds behind the Chinese champions.

The battle for bronze brought its own excitement, with Canada’s Sloan Mackenzie and Katie Vincent claiming the final podium spot in a race decided by fractions of a second. Vincent, who also won the bronze medal in Tokyo, said: “The only difference is Sloan. We started a new journey two years ago… and now we are on the Olympic podium. We are really excited.”

As Xu and Sun celebrated their back-to-back Olympic titles, the echoes of Tokyo 2020 were unmistakable. But far from merely repeating history, they have set a new standard, not just for themselves, but for every athlete who dreams of Olympic glory in canoe sprint.

Canoe Sprint: Women's double 500m podium

Gold: Xu Shixiao and Sun Mengya, People's Republic of China

Silver: Liudmyla Luzan and Anastasiia Rybachok, Ukraine

Bronze: Sloan Mackenzie and Katie Vincent, Canada

All results on Olympics.com