Slalom canoeist Mallory Franklin aiming for history in making women's C1 class at Tokyo 2020

Mallory Franklin has welcomed the inclusion of women’s canoe slalom at the expense of men’s double at the Tokyo Games, which comes nearly four decades after canoe slalom first appeared on the Olympic program in Munich in 1972.

Windsor-born Franklin could make history if she becomes the first British woman to represent the boat class at next year’s Games, where the 25-year-old is also targeting a spot in the women’s kayak.

“It’s amazing for the sport and to have that kind of parity across genders,” Franklin told Telegraph Sport. “For me personally, it’s a bit of a funny one because I’ve never been someone who’s just been focused on trying to go to the Olympics and win medals.

“I always had the dream of going [to the Olympics] in kayak, that was always an option. To now be able to have that dream across both is really good. You see more countries and girls getting involved now and there’s so many girls that come and watch paddle sessions. It’s really inspiring.”

British canoe slalom has enjoyed a rich pedigree in the men’s canoe double at the Olympics. At the Rio Games in 2016, David Florence and Richard Hounslow defended their silver medal the pair won in the same event in London four years earlier, having only missed out on top spot by compatriots Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott.

“Historically, I’ve fared better at canoe single,” revealed Franklin. “But they’re both so different and have such different characteristics. It’s almost like trying to pick a favourite child as a parent.”

After claiming a record eight individual world titles in a breakthrough 2018 season, Franklin will on Thursday begin her quest to upgrade her double world kayak and canoe silver at this week’s Canoe Slalom World Championships in La Seu d’Urgell, Spain, which serves as the last qualifying event for Tokyo 2020.

With only one Olympic place available in each boat class, Franklin currently has the edge in the women’s canoe single, having been crowned the European champion in June. But hot on her heels is Kimberley Woods, who powered to silver in the event at the World Cup in Prague last month, beating Franklin in both classes.

“As a team, we celebrate success when it comes and that creates such a nice culture within the team, where no one is massively above anyone else and it’s not a case of ‘Oh, you did well at the Olympics, you’re the best person ever’,” said Franklin, who helped win Britain’s first gold of the championships in the women’s kayak team event on Wednesday, along with Woods and Fiona Pennie.

“We’re such a small team at championships. There’s only 10 athletes that travel. You can’t not have that perception that we’re like a little family. We all get along and we all want the best for each other.”

Team GB are expected to announce the canoe slalom team in early October, prior to the Tokyo 2020 canoe slalom test event.