There is something about the canoe double over 500m that brings out the best in China.
Three years ago in Tokyo, Shixiao Xu and Mengya Sun became the first-ever winners of the women’s C2 500m after it was added to the Canoe Sprint programme.
Back at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, China's Guanliang Meng and Wenjun Yang topped the podium in the men’s C2 500m.
The event was then not included on the Olympic programme until it returned for the Paris 2024 Olympics where China triumphed again.
Hao Liu and Bowen Ji followed in the footsteps of Meng and Yang by delivering gold for China in the event in Paris.
"We've received a very warm welcome so that's given us a good incentive to have a good performance,” said Liu.
"In Tokyo I took two silver medals so winning the gold medal means a lot to me and it's very important for my country as well.
“It's compensation for what I've done up until now."
After withstanding early pressure, Liu and Ji proved too strong in the final 50m as they pulled away to capture the title.
Liu and Ji stopped the clock in a winning time of 1:39.48 as Italy’s Gabriele Casadei and Carlo Tacchini and Spain’s Joan Antoni Moreno and Diego Dominguez claimed silver and bronze respectively.
"I always believe I have the power to win,” said Liu.
“We have a great team and everybody worked really hard to make sure we put in everything to the end so I thank everyone working for us.”
Liu has got on the Olympic podium on two occasions, winning silver in both the men’s canoe single 1000m and men’s canoe double 1000m at Tokyo, yet his search for gold continues.
Liu, 30, said he teamed up with the 22-year-old Ji three years ago – and it has proven to a strong combination.
The duo have enjoyed success at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, claiming bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023.
Liu credits Ji for delivering his first gold medal after a large surge saw them to take the title.
“Ji is very young and motivated so he will be the future of canoeing in China,” said Liu.
Ji added: “It’s my first time as a gold medallist so it is very special.
“After 2021, the 1000m changed to 500m.
“As I’m good over 500m, that’s why they want us to become super strong together.
“That’s why they teamed up to make the team better."
