Denis Gargaud Chanut (born 22 July 1987) is a French slalom canoeist who has competed at the international level in C1 since 2004. Between 2009 and 2011 he also competed in the C2 category alongside Fabien Lefèvre. He won a gold medal in the C1 event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Gargaud Chanut also won nine medals at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships with four golds (C1: 2011, C1 team: 2021, C2 team: 2010, 2011), three silvers (C1 team: 2009, C2: 2010, 2011) and two bronzes (C1 team: 2013, 2017). He won nine medals at the European Championships (three golds, two silvers and four bronzes).
Gargaud Chanut finished the 2011 season as the World No. 1 in the C1 event. He won the overall World Cup title in C1 in 2021.
Denis's aunt and uncle, Pierre and Cathy Chassigneux, were French champions in the mixed C2 category and run a canoe-kayak club on the Loire river in Orléans; Denis took up canoeing there aged 12. He later excelled internationally, but failed to qualify for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics due to a strong competition with Tony Estanguet, and considered retiring.
Denis is the founder and head of the Duo Tonic and Mulebar company, which produces bars drinks and energy gels for athletes.
Denis Gargaud Chanut at the International Canoe Federation
Denis Gargaud Chanut at Olympedia
Denis Gargaud Chanut at Olympics.com
Denis Gargaud at Équipe de France Olympique (archived) (in French)
Final results of the men's C1 team slalom event for the 2009 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at the Wayback Machine (archived 20 September 2009)
2010 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 11 September 2010 C2 men's final results at the Wayback Machine (archived 27 July 2011)
2010 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships 11 September 2010 C2 men's team final results at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 July 2011)