Source: Xinhua

08-12-2008 21:24

Special Report:   2008 Beijing Olympic Games

BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia and Germany took the Olympic canoeing slalom C1 and K1 titles respectively on Tuesday in Beijing, extending Europeans' domination in the white water canoeing events.

Alexander Grimm of Germany paddles  during the men's kayak(K1) final of  Olympic canoe/kayak slalom  competition, in the Shunyi  Rowing-Canoeing Park in Beijing,  China, Aug. 12, 2008. Grimm claimed  the title in this event.(Xinhua  Photo)

Michal Martikan of Slovakia regained the C1 title, 12 years after he won the C1 gold in Atlanta when he was only 17. Alexander Grimm of Germany won the K1 gold. Both were the first gold medals for the their countries at the Beijing Games.

In the C1 event, David Florence of Britain took silver and Robin Bell of Australia bronze. In the K1, Fabien Lefevre of France won the silver and Benjamin Boukpeti of Togo grabbed the bronze, the first ever Olympic medal for the western African country.

Chinese canoeist Feng Liming finished 11th among 12 athletes in the semifinal and failed to be among the top 8 to earn him a slot in the final.