Brabants feeling fantastic

New Olympic champion Tim Brabants admitted his 1,000metre kayak single final could not have gone any better as he raced to gold with an impressive display at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.

The 31-year-old, already world and European champion, took the lead from the start and never surrendered his advantage.

"That was exactly the race plan we wanted, that is what we have been working on all year how to race an Olympic final," said Brabants, who won bronze in Sydney and came fifth four years ago in Athens.

"In the first two strokes there was no doubt I was going to win the race. No-one was going to come past me, I felt fantastic.

"I know it is easy to say when I won but right from the start line I was going to win the race.

"Four years ago I had unfinished business. I was good four years ago but I wasn't this good.

"The guys at the last Olympics deserved to get those medals."

The doctor from Walton-on-Thames added: "It doesn't really feel real but that was what we have been working towards.

"The times when you are absolutely falling to pieces in training - this is what it is for and what it has resulted in."

Brabants won from defending Olympic champion Eirik Larsen, who came on strong at the finish to finish second.