Olympic Beijing 2008

(BEIJING, August 23) — Hungary won its second gold medal in Canoe/Kayak events in the final race of the competition, the Women’s Kayak Double (K2) 500 meter, on Saturday, August 23, at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Defending Olympic champions Katalin Kovacs and Natasa Janic of Hungary were in control for the majority of the race, recording a comfortable win at 1:41.308 minutes over silver medalists Poland’s Beata Mikolajczyk and Aneta Konieczna with 1:42.092 minutes and bronze medalists Marie Delattre and Anne-Laure Viard of France at 1:42.128 minutes.

Germany was first to stake its claims for a medal after the pair went out fast from the start to lead by one-quarter of a boat length in the first 150m.

The Germans were unable to hold their early advantage, and surrendered their lead to Hungary, Poland and France by the 250m mark.

The second half of the race was a three-way battle between Hungary, Poland and France, with the Hungarians keeping their bow in front to hold off any late challenges.

France’s bronze medal is their first in a Women’s Olympic Kayak event.

Hungary’s other gold medal from the Beijing 2008 regatta came from Attila Sandor Vadja in the Men’s Canoe Single (C1) 1000m event on Friday, August 22.

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