China's Olympic champions Meng Guanliang (R) and Yang Wenjun (L) display gold medals during the podium ceremony after the men's canoeing C2 500 metres competition at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) August 28, 2004. China's pair took gold in one minute 40.278 seconds. REUTERS/Kin Cheung
By sportswriter Gong Bing and Leng Tong
ATHENS, Aug.28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun, hot favorites in men's C2 500m race, won the final in one minute 40.278 seconds on Saturday at Athens Olympic regatta, the first gold for China's canoeing sport in the Olympic history.
China's Meng Guanliang, left, and Yang Wenjun display the gold medals they won in the Men's C2 500 meter final, during the kayak flatwater event at the 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) in Schinias near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Meng, excited over his victory, said, "we are prepared for today and I tried our best."
"It's not a coincidence after years' hard training. Our efforts are not in vain. And we finally realized our dream," Meng said.
China's Olympic champions Meng Guanliang (front) and Yang Wenjun (rear) paddle on their way to win a gold medal in the men's C2 500 metres competition at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) August 28, 2004. China's pair took gold in one minute 40.278 seconds. REUTERS/Andy Clark
"We were slow at the start but we ignored the disadvantage and just concentrated on the finish line. I could not believe that we won the first place and I had thought that we came third or fourth."
Meng, 28, from Zhejiang Province of China, spoke highly of his partner Yang, 21, from Jiangxi Province, saying that their good partnership proved success.
China's Olympic champions Meng Guanliang (L) and Yang Wenjun (R) compete against Germany's Christian Gille (C rear) and Tomasz Wylenzek in the men's C2 500 metres at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) August 28, 2004. China's pair took gold in one minute 40.278 seconds. REUTERS/Kin Cheung
Yang, burst into tears, said that he was much satisfied with the result after years' hard training and the stiff competitions.
"I'm very proud to win a gold for our country. I never imagined this and this is incredible. I won a gold, the very first canoeing gold for our country," he said.
21-year-old Yang only partnered with Meng for months and made great achievements.
Concentration : Chinese Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun power to finish first during the Men's C2 500m heats for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) at the Schinias Rowing and Canoeing Center, outside Athens. (AFP/Maxim Marmur)
In their debut in May's regatta of Japan's Komatsu Continental Qualification Asia of 2004, Meng and Yang, came out with the fourth world best result in 1:40.27.
In June, the duo, took all by surprise to crown Duisburg World Cup, the first ever world champions for Chinese men¡¯s canoe.
China's Meng Guanliang, left, and Yang Wenjun react after they won the Men's K2 500 meter final to take the gold medal, during the kayak flatwater event at the 2004 Olympic Games (news - web sites) in Schinias near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)
Meng talked about their coach Marek Ploch from Poland, saying, "he brought us new training idea, which we didn't understand and we had quarrels with him sometimes. He has been coaching us for two years and seven months, and his coaching capability is fully manifested today."
Chinese pair Meng Guanliang (L) and Yang Wenjun compete in the men's C2 500m final on Saturday. [tom.com]
Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission of China to Olympics, said, "the gold bears special significance as this is crucial to promote China's 119 (the total number of golds in track and field, swimming and other water events) project."
Cuba took the silver and the bronze went to Russia.
About Yang Wenjun
Name£º Yang Wenjun
Gender£º M
Height£º 1.77m
Weight£º 77 kg
Date of birth£º December 25, 1983
Place of birth£º Fengcheng City, Jiangxi Province
Sport£º Canoeing (C2)
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