Canoes have been used as a means of transportation since ancient times. From Europe to early America, canoes were used to navigate rivers, and some were even crafted to fit up to 50 people.
Canoeing found its beginnings as a recreational sport in the early 1800s, thanks in large part to Englishman John MacGregor. MacGregor spent his days canoeing the rivers and lakes of Europe, and later wrote a popular series of books describing his journeys. Many people imitated MacGregor, and in 1866 he founded the Royal Canoe Club to encourage interest in the sport.
Quickly, the sport caught on in Europe and North America, and in 1924 delegates from national canoeing associations met to establish an international body and formulate rules for competitive racing around the globe. That same year, canoe/kayak made its first Olympic appearance in Paris with an exhibition regatta.
In the following years, the main canoe governing body petitioned the Olympic Committee to add the sport as an Olympic event, and canoeing was added as a medal sport at the 1936 Games in Berlin.
The sport has evolved over the years, with the most dramatic change coming in 1972 when canoe slalom was added to the Olympic docket. The event is based on whitewater canoeing, where a paddler must navigate through gates while contending with rapids and falls.