Paris 2024 Canoe Sprint: All results, as Germany win photo-finish gold ahead of Australia in men’s kayak four 500m
Reigning Olympic and world champions Germany pipped Australia to gold in a photo finish in the men’s kayak four 500m final at Paris 2024.
With just 0.04 seconds between the two nations, it was Germany’s quartet of Max Rendschmidt, Max Lemke, Jacob Schopf and Tom Liebscher-Lucz who won with a time of 1:19.80 ahead of Australia.
Spain took home the bronze close behind with a time of 1:20.05, almost a second clear of Ukraine in fourth.
Australia posted an Olympic best time of 1:19.22 in the semi-finals, but with Serbia and Spain also going sub-1:20 the final was set up to be a thriller.
Defending champions Germany - three of whom, Rendschmidt, Lemke and Liebscher-Lucz winning gold in Tokyo - were also contenders having won the second heat with a slightly slower time of 1:20.57.
After a false start, the kayakers went at the second time of asking, with Spain just feet ahead of the chasing pack at the 250m mark – with just two seconds separating all eight boats.
Germany came back strongly to edge ahead, and as Spain slightly faltered the Australians also joined the scrap for gold.
Ultimately, just 0.25 seconds separated the podium places, with Germany made to wait before the photo finish confirmed their victory and a successful title defence.
Canoe sprint: Men’s kayak four 500m podium at Paris 2024
Gold: Max Rendschmidt, Max Lemke, Jacob Schopf and Tom Liebscher-Lucz (Germany)
Silver: Jackson Collins, Noah Havard, Pierre van der Westhuyzen and Riley Fitzsimmons (Australia)
Bronze: Rodrigo Germade, Saul Craviotto, Marcus Cooper and Carlos Arévalo (Spain)