Ukrainian paddler Inna Osypenko-Radomska claimed the title in women's kayak single (K1) 500m in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday by clocking 1:50.673.
Josefa Idem from Italy got the silver medal (1:50.677) and German Katrin Wagner-Augustin won the bronze medal with a result of 1:51.022.
The most favorite for the event, Hungarian Katalin Kovacs finished the fourth. She took the lead in the first part of he race, but clearly slowed down in the last sprint.
"The race was so close, I didn't know I was winning because I was so close to Italy. I didn't know I had won," Inna said excitedly.
"I gave myself a goal and I'm happy to have achieved that. The first thing I will do is call my husband who is my biggest fan," she noted.
On missing the gold medal in the race, the Italian paddler said it was a small pity.
"I didn't get the gold by a millisecond, I don't remember anything around me, I just focused on the race," Idem said in the mixed zone.
"I consider myself really lazy even if I'm really fast during the competition. My best friend dreamed the race like this where I just missed out on the gold," the silver medallist said.
The German athlete said that she just couldn't believe the race result.
"I didn't look up for the whole race, It was a fight with Katalin Kovacs, I can't believe it," said the bronze medallist Katrin.
"I kept on looking at the results board and thought I was fourth so that makes bronze so much sweeter," she added.
Kovacs is the holder of the world best time for the event. She created the record of one minutes and 47. 343 seconds in Szeged, Hungary in 2002.
Flatwater races reached the Olympic Games in 1924 and were placed on the Olympic program in 1936. In flatwater races, paddlers must race on a straight course, each boat in a separate lane. In the kayak, the paddler is seated and uses a two blade paddle, while in a canoe, the paddler is on one knee and uses a single blade paddle.
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2008)