Canoeing

Slovakian twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner paddled to a stunning victory in the men's two-man canoe yesterday to retain the title they won in Sydney. The duo produced a powerful display through a course of ferocious white water and had nearly four seconds to spare over Germans Marcus Becker and Stefan Henze. Czechs Jaroslav Volf and Ondrej Stepanek took the bronze.

"We were passionate about being psychologically prepared for the race," Peter said. "Both medals are fantastic. We worked so hard to get here and I am so proud that we could do this for Slovakia."

The fancied British pair of Stuart Bowman and Nicholas Smith had a disappointing first run and did not qualify for the final. Benoit Peschier was aggressive and precise while a British medal hopeful was timid when the French dominated the men's slalom Olympic kayaking yesterday. Peschier won the gold and world champion Fabien Lefevre the bronze with Briton Campbell Walsh splitting the pair after a timing error originally marked him as the bronze winner.