Beijing - Russia's Maxim Opalev finally made it to the top of the Olympic medal podium Saturday when he won the men's C1 500- metre canoe race at the third attempt. The 29-year-old Volgograd native, who managed bronze in the event in Athens four years ago and silver at Sydney 2000, finally claimed gold at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park in a time of 1 minute 47.140 seconds.
Spain's David Cal had to settle for silver just as in Athens while Iurii Cheban of Ukraine took bronze.
In the men's K1 500m kayak race, Australia's Ken Wallace trailed defending Olympic champion Adam van Koeverden of Canada at the halfway stage but finished the stronger to claim victory in a time of 1:37.252 minutes.
Great Britain's Tim Brabants, winner of Friday's K1 1,000m race, had to be satisfied with bronze.
