Canoeist Wu Shao-hsuan (吳少璿) will represent Taiwan in the men’s K1 canoe slalom at the Paris Olympics, marking the first time a Taiwanese male will compete in this event.
Three Taiwanese athletes will participate in the canoe events. Wu will compete in the men's K1, and Chang Chu-han (張筑涵) in the women’s K1. Lai Kuan-chieh (賴冠傑) will compete in the men's canoe single 1000m. Wu is the cousin of female canoe slalom athlete Chang and began canoeing in elementary school, influenced by Chang.
In the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, Wu placed 4th in men's canoe K1. At the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games, he won bronze with a time of 97.12 seconds. He earned his Olympic spot by placing 4th in the 2023 Asian Championships.
Wu says feels honored and excited about making history as Taiwan's first male canoe slalom Olympian. He is focused on intensive training ahead of the Olympics and has already flown to Paris to prepare, where he is training with Tokyo Olympic champions. Wu acknowledges his strengths in physical fitness and power but recognizes the need to improve his technique and experience. He says he is determined to give his all on the Olympic stage.