Paddlers at the Olympics!

With my big road trip coming up I haven't had much time to think about it, but the opening ceremonies for the Games of the 31st Olympiad are this Friday at Rio de Janeiro.  The whitewater slalom competition will take place during the first week of the Games, while flatwater sprint is scheduled for the second week.

The U.S. Olympic canoe and kayak team roster is as follows:

Casey Eichfeld, Drums, Pennsylvania.  Whitewater slalom single and double canoe.
Maggie Hogan, Huntington Beach, California.  Flatwater sprint single kayak, 200 meters and 500 meters.
Devin McEwan, Lakeville, Connecticut.  Whitewater slalom double canoe.
Ashley Nee, Darnestown, Maryland.  Whitewater slalom kayak.
Michal Smolen, Gastonia, North Carolina.  Whitewater slalom kayak.

I'll be on the road, probably camping much of the time, so it's anybody's guess how much attention I'll be able to pay to the Olympics.  Chances are I'll be watching archived footage later at www.nbcolympics.com (The live stream schedule is here).

In any case, here's the schedule for the U.S. canoe and kayak racers.  This is that one time every four years that the eyes of the world are on our little sport, so tune in and check it out!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
Casey Eichfeld (C1M Slalom): Heats 1, 11:30 AM EDT
Casey Eichfeld (C1M Slalom): Heats 2, 1:30 PM EDT
Michal Smolen (K1M Slalom): Heats 1, 12:20 PM EDT
Michal Smolen (K1M Slalom): Heats 2, 2:20 PM EDT

MONDAY, AUGUST 8
McEwan/Eichfeld (C2 Slalom): Heats 1, 11:30 AM EDT
McEwan/Eichfeld (C2 Slalom): Heats 2, 1:20 PM EDT
Ashley Nee (K1W Slalom): Heats 1, 12:10 PM EDT
Ashley Nee (K1W Slalom): Heats 2, 2:00 PM EDT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9
*C1M Slalom Semifinals: 12:30 PM EDT
*C1M Slalom Finals: 1:10 PM EDT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
*K1M Slalom Semifinals: 12:30 PM EDT
*K1M Slalom Finals: 1:15 PM EDT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
*C2 Slalom Semifinals: 11:30 AM EDT
*C2 Slalom Finals: 1:15 PM EDT
*K1W Slalom Semifinals: 12:15 PM EDT
*K1W Slalom Finals: 2:00 PM EDT

MONDAY, AUGUST 15
Maggie Hogan (K1W Sprint 200M): Heats, 8:45 AM EDT
*K1W Sprint 200m Semifinals, 10:07 AM EDT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
*K1W Sprint 200m Finals, 8:47 AM EDT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
Maggie Hogan (K1W Sprint 500m): Heats, 8:58 AM EDT
*K1W Sprint 500m Semifinals: 9:55 AM EDT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
*K1W Sprint 500m Finals: 8:56 AM EDT