Maris Strombergs, reigning world champion from Latvia, clinched the first-ever Olympic men's bicycle moto cross (BMX) gold on Friday.

Strombergs took the lead of the eight-strong final from the very beginning and finished the run at 36.190, leaving the Games' favorites Mike Day and Donny Robinson of the United States far behind at 36.606 and 36.972 respectively.

Strombergs, 21, won the title of the 2008 BMX world championships held in Taiyuan, Shangxi province, in last May. He is leading a new generation of European riders challenging the established US Squad.

Earlier Friday, Anne-Caroline Chausson from France won the women's BMX gold, upsetting the Games' favorite Shanaze Reade from Britain.

The International Olympic Committee decided to introduce BMX at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on June 29, 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)