Xeno Mueller of Switzerland won the silver and Marcel Hacker of Germany the bronze.
In the women's event Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus won the gold medal but only after a lengthy delay while officials checked the photo-finish.
Only one hundredth of a second behind Karsten, Rumyana Neykova of Bulgaria won silver. Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski of Germany claimed the bronze.
Pairs glory
With the single scullers finished, Romania's Georgeta Damian and Doina Ignat won the next gold on offer, the women's coxless pairs.
Australia's Rachael Taylor and Kate Slatter won silver while Melissa Ryan and Karen Kraft of the United States took bronze after setting the early pace.
Britain's medal hopes Ed Coode and Greg Searle missed out in the men's event which was won by the French pair Michel Andrieux and Jean-Christophe Rolland.
Next on the water were the double sculls, and the German team of Jana Thieme and Kathrin Boron won the women's event.
Netherlands won the silver medal and Lithuania took the bronze.
The men's double sculls was taken by Luka Spik and Iztok Cop of Slovenia with Olaf Tufte and Fredrik Raaen Bekken of Norway in second and the Italian pair of Giovanni Calabrese and Nicola Sartori third.
The water was then left to the coxless fours and Britain's team took a historic win which gave Steve Redgrave his fifth consecutive gold medal.
The Italian four were second followed by Australia in third.
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