Top-ranked canoeist Lucien Delfour out for missing gate

Top-ranked canoeist Lucien Delfour of Australia dropped out of the semifinals in the 2016 Olympic Games canoe slalom competition in the men's K1 heats for missing a gate here on Sunday.

Delfour was ranked 13th after the first run. In the second run, he was handed a 50-second time penalty for missing gate 20 and this cost him a semifinal berth.

"I was shocked to see that 50-second penalty on the scoreboard. I actually didn't know where it came from at all," Delfour said. "My head was in the gate for sure. I noticed on the cameras it looks like I'm not in the gate because I tilt my head before I crossed. Maybe it appears a little bit dodgy but like I said, I'm 100% sure I crossed the gate."

On whether he will appeal, he said: "It's under review. I'm not sure what's gonna happen. I'm sure it was a tough call.

"In these situations, athletes should get the benefit of the doubt. It's quite heartbreaking especially at the Olympic Games." he added.

Giovanni De Gennaro posted the fastest time of 86.85 seconds in the first run in the men's K1 heats to top the ranking.

"I'm really pleased because in the first round I did really well," De Gennaro said. "I wasn't that happy about the last part to the second round but it's still good to start with a good rhythm from the beginning."

In the men's C1 heats, Sideris Tasiadis of Germany came out ninth in the first run, but topped the ranking after the second run with a time of 92.23 seconds.

Two Chinese canoeists participated in the races. Tan Ya finished in 19th place in the men's K1 heats, failing to book a berth in the semis. Shu Jianming advanced to the semifinals by finishing in 13th place in the men's C1 heats. Endit