The German team is considered one of the strongest contenders for Olympic gold.

A shock message for both team and fans: the German four-person canoe, set to be used in the Olympic Games, was damaged in Luxembourg during transport. Apparently, a forklift caused collateral damage to the boat when trying to load it. Following the incident, it has become clear that the canoe cannot be used during the upcoming Games.

There are only two canoes of this particular type in the world. The second one is expected to be shipped to Tokyo without any guarantee that it will arrive in time. The German team only has a prototype in Tokyo, ready to act as a replacement if all else fails.