Belarus claimed the Olympic gold medal in the men's kayak four (K4) 1,000 meters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Friday.

The team finished in two minutes, 55.714 seconds, 0.879 seconds ahead of Slovakia. Germany, silver medalists in Athens, took bronze in 2:56.593.

Hungary, who won the gold medals in Sdyney and Athens, missed out on a medal with a fifth finish.

China, silver medalists in a pre-Games world cup race, came in seventh place.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)