NEWS
Meet the Team USA 2024 Canoe Slalom Olympic Team
Editor’s Note: Evy Leibfarth was an incoming Davidson College student when she participated in the 2021 Olympic Games. The Davidson College student has taken a break from her studies to focus on her Olympic training. Here’s the article we published about Evy three years ago. The following is a press release from the American Canoe Association.
Everything has led to this, and it’s just the beginning. Learn more about our athletes’ dreams becoming a reality as part of Making Team USA, presented by Xfinity at teamusa.com/making-team-usa
The American Canoe Association and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee have announced the roster of Team USA’s canoe/kayak slalom athletes selected to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The athletes who will be competing for the United States are:
Women’s Team
- Evy Leibfarth — Bryson City, NC — Nantahala Racing Club
Men’s Team
- Casey Eichfeld — Charlotte, NC — Potomac Whitewater Racing Club
The U.S. earned three Olympic quotas at the 2023 Canoe Slalom World Championships in Lee Valley, United Kingdom, September 19-24, 2023. The men’s canoe quota was earned by Casey Eichfeld who finished 19th. The women’s canoe quota was earned by Evy Leibfarth who placed 7th. The women’s kayak quota was secured via reallocation through Ria Sribar’s 32nd place finish. Hosted over two weekends in April, the 2024 USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials determined which American athletes would fill these quota spots and represent the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Photo Credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images // Athlete: Casey Eichfeld
The first weekend of the 2024 USA Olympic Canoe Slalom Team Trials took place April 13-14 in Montgomery, Alabama. Zachary (Bug) Lokken had incredible performances in the men’s canoe event and won the first weekend of racing. It came down to the final day of racing during the second weekend of the 2024 USA Olympic Canoe Slalom Team Trials in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to determine which Olympian, Casey Eichfeld or Zachary (Bug) Lokken, would compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. On April 27, Casey had a great race and earned his spot on his fourth Olympic Team.
Evy had consistently dominant performances in the women’s canoe event at both weekends of the 2024 USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials. By the conclusion of the first weekend of the 2024 USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials, Evy secured her spot on her second Olympic Team for the women’s canoe event. In Oklahoma City, during the second weekend of the 2024 USA Canoe Slalom Olympic Team Trials, Evy’s performance earned her the women’s kayak spot on the Olympic Team.
Both Casey and Evy have elected to compete in the kayak cross event. Casey will compete in the men’s canoe event and the men’s kayak cross event. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Evy will be making history at the first American woman to compete in three whitewater events — women’s canoe, women’s kayak , and women’s kayak cross.
Photo Credit: Mark Reis // Athlete: Evy Leibfarth
Kayak cross will be making its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In this exciting event, four paddlers drop into a technical whitewater course from an elevated platform and compete in a head-to-head race to the finish line. Canoe slalom was first included in the Olympic program in the Munich 1972 Olympic Games and has appeared continuously in the Olympic program since the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games.
Watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Every event of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics will be broadcast live on Peacock, making it the most comprehensive live coverage in U.S. media history!
Additionally, be sure to tune in to the Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday, July 26 on NBC and Peacock beginning at 12pm ET. Telemundo will provide Spanish-language coverage beginning at 1pm ET. Primetime coverage starts at 7:30pm ET/PT on NBC and Peacock.
How to Watch Evy
Evy’s first race of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Women’s Kayak Single Heats 1st Run, will take place on Saturday, July 27 at 3:50pm Central European Time. The Women’s Kayak Single Heats 2nd Run will take place on Saturday July 27 at 6:00 p.m. Central European Time. The Women’s Kayak Single Final is scheduled for Sunday July 28 at 5:45 p.m. Central European Time.
Evy will race again in the Women’s Canoe Single Heats 1st Run on Tuesday, July 30 at 3:00pm Central European Time and in the Women’s Canoe Single Heats 2nd Run on Tuesday, July 30 at 5:10 p.m. Central European Time. The Women’s Canoe Single Final is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 at 5:25 p.m. Central European Time.
Evy is also set to compete in the Women’s Kayak Cross Time Trial on Friday, August 2 at 3:30 p.m. Central European Time. The Women’s Kayak Cross Final is scheduled for Monday, August 5 at 4:55 p.m. Central European Time.
View the entire Canoe Slalom Olympic Schedule
How to Watch Casey
Casey’s first race of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Men’s Canoe Single Heats 1st Run, will take place on Saturday, July 27 at 3:00pm Central European Time. The Men’s Canoe Single Heats 2nd Run will take place on Saturday July 27 at 5:10pm Central European Time. The Women’s Kayak Single Final is scheduled for Sunday July 28 at 5:45pm Central European Time.
Casey will race again in the Men’s Kayak Cross Time Trial on Friday, August 2 at 4:40pm Central European Time. The Men’s Kayak Cross Final is scheduled for Monday, August 5 at 5:00pm Central European Time.
View the entire Canoe Slalom Olympic Schedule