Molmenti wins K1 gold

A strange choice some might say for a man who cheated death in a serious motorcycle accident in 2007 but not surprising for a born showman who thrives on adrenaline.

"That was the first big job for my own personal angel," Molmenti who celebrated his 28th birthday in dream fashion by beating Czech Vavrinec Hradilek and Germany's Hannes Aigner to the top step of the podium at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

"I went flying off a ravine and seven metres down into a dry river bed. I really shouldn't be here," Molmenti said.

"I broke a vertebrae in my back but 100 days later I was back paddling and I started to rise up again.

"Luckily my body is strong and that helped me through that bad moment and now it's water under the bridge."

The accident set his career back and although he qualified for Beijing he managed only 10th. That lingering disappointment was flushed away with a scintillating ride through the rapids on Wednesday as he completed a full set of major honours in K1.

Showing incredible control of his blood red canoe he tamed the roaring waters to negotiate the treacherous gates, crossing the line in 93.43 seconds to steal gold from the clutches of Hradilek whose time of 94.78 had looked unbeatable.

"I just made the sign of the cross (indicating on his chest) and then switched my engines on," added Molmenti, who also enjoys mountaineering and mountain-biking.

"When I saw Hradilek's run I knew that there were a couple of tiny mistakes from him and that if I was perfect I could take it. Luckily I was perfect today," added the 2010 world champion who paddled around with an Italian flag in the finishing pool."

Having already been crowned a world, European and World Cup champion, Molmenti has now become the first K1 kayak athlete to achieve the full set.

"I finished my job," he said. "I'm so excited I've lost my voice. I'm the first K1 man to do everything and I'm pretty proud of that.

"Today I was sure that if I did my job no one could beat me."

Hradilek's consolation was his country's first medal at this year's Olympics and he will have the chance of another one in Thursday's kayak double K2 semi-finals and final.

"I didn't realise we have had no medals so I did not put pressure on myself," Hradilek, who also finished runner-up to Molmenti at the 2010 worlds, told reporters.

"I hope I inspire other Czech athletes."

Togo's surprise bronze medallist from Beijing, Benjamin Boukpeti, cheered on by a sizeable entourage from the country's Olympic committee, could not repeat his heroics, finishing 10th in the final after missing a gate and suffering a 50-second penalty.

Action at the canoe slalom venue concludes on Thursday when Slovakian twins Pavol and Peter Hochschorner try to win a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal in canoe double.

Gold is also up for grabs in the women's kayak single.

Great Britain's Richard Hounslow failed to qualify for the K1 final, finishing 12th in a time of 1:04.30 minutes, including a two-second deduction for touching gate 19.

But he and other semi-finalist David Florence, who failed to qualify to the C1 final, will both have a second chance at a medal opportunity when they compete in the C2 together.

“Obviously you don’t want to rely on another category,” said Hounslow. “The whole doubling up I do with David is great if you don’t do well in the other.

“David and I have putting everything in over the last four years – we haven’t done well individually but we still have C2 and I have to get my head ready.

“It’s hard but doable. It’s hard when you go into a competition and come away satisfied with both. I’m obviously very disappointed.

“I didn’t realise I hit the gate but even without that penalty I don’t think I would have got through. It just feels like an opportunity missed. I haven’t been performing as well as I can. I’m gutted really.

“I am gutted that I couldn’t put a performance that they could be proud of. I could have got into the medals.”

Hounslow, born in Harrow, felt he dealt with the pressure of a home crowd, but was disappointed he could not give them what they wanted.

“It’s hard to take not winning,” he added. “I attacked to the finish and thought I’d made a half-decent run. Only when you look back, you realise where you went wrong.

“The nature of this sport is very unpredictable, but the top guys put it in time and time again. I’m gutted I couldn’t put in a performance that I and the home crowd could be proud of.

“There’s a lot of pressure out there, but it’s my job, I’ve got to deal with it.”