Athens Olympics Day 14

Cal, silver medallist at the 2003 world championships, had a steady start but ground out a lead of just under a length by 500 and Dittmer was unable to catch him. He held on to take gold over Dittmer while Hungary's Attila Vajda finished third.

Norway's Eirik Veraas Larsen came from behind to win the men's K1 1000 Olympic gold medal in the first final of the canoeing regatta. Larsen started as one of the favourites for the title after winning two world cups this season.

Canada's Adam van Koeverden shot out of the blocks but was slowly reeled in by Larsen in the second half of the race. New Zealand's world champion Ben Fouhy came through on the line to win silver and van Koeverden took bronze.

The Norwegian gold medallist had looked dominant in his heats throughout the week and won by clear water.

Germany's Birgit Fischer won her eighth Olympic gold medal at the age of 42 when her K4 crew beat world champions Hungary in a thrilling final. The German crew of Fischer, Maike Nollen, Katrin Wagner and Carolin Leonhardt finished less than a metre ahead of Hungary after coming from behind to snatch victory on the line. Ukraine finished third.

Fischer won her first Olympic gold as an 18-year-old in Moscow in 1980 and has not ruled out competing in Beijing in 2008.

Hungary, world champions since 1999, also took silver at the Sydney Games in 2000.

World champions Sweden won the men's Olympic K2 1,000 metres by half a length to add to the silver medal they took in Sydney. Markus Oscarsson and Henrik Nilsson moved ahead in the second half of the race to beat fast-finishing Olympic champions Italy into silver.

Norway took in bronze to give Eirik Veraas Larsen his second medal of the day after he won the K1 1,000 an hour earlier. New Zealand's Ben Fouhy also raced in the K1 final but after starting as one of the favourites finished eighth in the K2.

Germany caused an upset at the Olympic canoeing regatta on Friday as Olympic and world champions Romania faded badly in the men's C2 1,000 race. Romania were dropped off the start and Germany's Christian Gille and Tomasz Wylenzek came from behind in the last 100 metres to edge out Russia and win gold.

The Germans won a 2004 world cup final and had looked strong in the earlier stages of the Olympic regatta, but Romania had been the Athens favourites.

Hungary took the bronze with Romania only in fourth.