Section 6: Scoring
6.1 Sprint Scoring
- Result determination: First boat across the finish line wins. Photo finish cameras and transponder timing record results to 1/1000th of a second (0.001 s).
- Qualification advancement: In heats and semifinals, the top finishers advance directly (e.g., top 2 from each heat go to the semifinal). Additional "fastest losers" may also advance based on time.
- Dead heats: If the photo finish cannot separate two boats, a dead heat is declared and both crews receive the same ranking. In a final, shared medals are awarded.
- GPS tracking: Modern sprint events may use GPS transponders to provide real-time speed and positioning data for broadcast, though official results are determined by the photo finish.
6.2 Slalom Scoring
- Total time = course time + penalty seconds
- Course time: Measured from the start signal to the paddler's bow crossing the finish line, recorded to 1/100th of a second
- Gate touch penalty: +2 seconds per gate touched (maximum one penalty per gate, even for multiple touches at the same gate)
- Missed gate penalty: +50 seconds per gate missed or negotiated incorrectly
- Qualification: 2 runs in qualification, best time (including penalties) counts for advancement. Semifinal and final each have 1 run.
- Winning: Lowest total time (course time + penalties) in the final wins the gold medal
6.3 Kayak Cross Scoring
- Placement-based: No times recorded for ranking. Finishing position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) in each heat determines advancement.
- Time trial: An initial time trial run (similar to slalom) seeds athletes into the head-to-head bracket
- Bracket: Top 2 from each heat advance. Rounds continue through quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. A small final determines the bronze medal.
- Disqualification in a heat: If an athlete is disqualified (e.g., for deliberate obstruction), they are ranked last in that heat and do not advance