Inclusion of Paracanoage in the Paralympic Games

Paracanoagem emerged in 2009, at the initiative of the International Canoeing Federation (ICF). The first world sport was held in 2010, in Poznan, Poland, and was attended by athletes from 31 countries. At the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016, which marked the debut of the sport, only KL1 200 meters were played.

The representatives of Brazil were the athletes Debora Benevides (KL2 Female), Mari Santilli (KL3 Female), Luis Carlos Cardoso (KL1 Male), Caio Ribeiro (KL3 Male). In the debut, Brazil has already secured its first medal, a silver medal with Caio Ribeiro.

He was also classified as the athlete Fernando Rufino by the KL2 Men, but because of a heart condition at the time the athlete had to be replaced by canoeist Alex Tofalini.