RIO DE JANEIRO - Marcus WALZ (ESP) was a surprise winner in a day of tight racing at Lagoa Stadium on Tuesday.
Fernando PIMENTA (POR) set the early pace in the final of the men's kayak single 1000m, leading at the first two timing points. With 250m to go Murray STEWART (AUS) had moved into first place with Roman ANOSHKIN (RUS) in second.
STEWART and ANOSHKIN were then overtaken by WALZ and Josef DOSTAL (CZE), engaged in a battle in lanes seven and eight which was won by the 21-year-old Spaniard after DOSTAL tired in the closing stages.
DOSTAL needed medical attention but made it to the podium to collect his silver medal. ANOSHKIN finished third.
Earlier, Sebastian BRENDEL (GER) retained his men's canoe single 1000m title after coming through a tough fight with Isaquias QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS (BRA). QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS led at the start with a quicker stroke rate than his more experienced rival, but BRENDEL's strength was decisive at the end.
QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS is the first Brazilian to win an Olympic medal in canoe sprint. Serghei TARNOVSCHI's (MDA) bronze was the second canoe sprint medal for Moldova in history and their first medal in any sport at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
A photofinish was needed to separate first and second in the women's kayak double 500m. Gabriella SZABO/Danuta KOZAK (HUN) were just a little too strong for London 2012 champions Tina DIETZE/Franziska WEBER (GER), despite the Germans' fast finish. Karolina NAJA/Beata MIKOLAJCZYK (POL) took the bronze.
In the women's kayak single 200m, it looked as though Lisa CARRINGTON (NZL) had blown her chance to win a second successive gold medal with a slow start. But the New Zealander came through in the closing stages to take the win in just under 40 seconds.
Marta WALCZYKIEWICZ took silver for Poland, while London 2012 silver medallist Inna OSIPENKO-RODOMSKA (AZE) added bronze to her Olympic medal collection.
Wednesday's action
QUEIROZ DOS SANTOS opens his campaign for another medal on Wednesday with heats of the men's canoe single 200m. KOZAK and OSPIENKO-RODOMSKA are also in action again in the heats of the women's kayak single 500m.
The Lagoa Stadium crowd will also see heats and semifinals of the men's kayak double 1000m and men's kayak double 200m.
