Beijing- Hungary, Great Britain and Germany took the early canoe medals at the Beijing Olympics on Friday.

Tim Brabants won the kayak single (K1) over 1,000m, Attila Sandor Vajda took gold in the canoe single (C1) over 1,000m and Germany clinched the women's kayak four
(K4) 500m final.

Brabants, who is the reigning world champion in the K1, but only has an Olympic bronze medal from Athens to his credit, won in 3 minutes 26.323 seconds ahead of Norwegian Eirik Veraas Larsen, who was the defending champion and Ken Wallace from Australia.

Brabants said his strategy had worked out. "It's incredible, absolutely incredible. The race went one hundred per cent to plan. I need to thank my coach and now I am an Olympic champion.

"I've had a great season and to finish it up with the most enjoyable race I've ever had is fantastic. When you realise you've crossed the line first you don't feel tired."

He said he was already thinking of the next Olympics. "London is definitely on the cards now, don't be surprised to see me in London ready to represent Great Britain again."

In the C1, Vadja beat Spain's David Cal and Canadian Thomas Hall to the gold. The Hungarian won in 3:50.46, beating Cal by 2.284 seconds, while Hall took bronze.

The German four of Fanny Fischer, Nicole Reinhardt, Katrin Wagner-Augustin and Conny Wasmuth clinched the women's K4 over 500 metres, with Hungary taking silver and Australia bronze. (dpa)