Opalev storms to canoeing title

Russia's Maxim Opalev produced a stunning finish in the men's C1 500m to win his first gold medal in three Olympic Games.

Opalev, who won bronze in Athens and silver in Sydney, charged through late to pip Spain's David Cal in a time of one minute 47.140 seconds.

The Spaniard, who was sick while collecting his silver medal, finished ahead of Ukraine's Iurii Cheban.

Spain's Saul Craviotto and Carlos Perez won the men's K2 500m final.

The pair held a huge advantage going into the final 200m but in the end were forced to hang on as defending champions Germany fought back brilliantly to only just miss out on gold.

Belarus edged out Hungary for the bronze.

Elsewhere, China's duo of Guanliang Meng and Wenjun Yang won gold in the men's C2 500m, before falling into the water after crossing the finishing line.

Russia's Sergey Ulegin and Alexander Kostoglod took silver and bronze went to Germany's Christian Gille and Thomasz Wylenzek.

On Friday, Wylenzek was taken to hospital with dehydration after winning silver in the men's 1000m double.

Hungary's pair of Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janic defended their women's K2 500m title with Poland taking silver medal and bronze going to France.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Beijing 2008 - canoeing and kayaking
Slalom canoeing from the BOA
Sprint canoeing from the BOA
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