Michal Martikan of Slovakia on Tuesday regained the Olympic canoeing slalom men's single (C1) title in Beijing, 12 years after he won the C1 gold medal in Atlanta.

Michal Martikan of Slovakia [Xinhua]

The gold came 12 years after the 29-year-old won the C1 gold medal in Atlanta when he was only 17.

Martikan finished the semifinal and final in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park with a combined result of 176.65 seconds, ahead of 178.61 seconds with David Florence of Britain. Robin Bell of Australia took bronze with a time of 180.59 seconds.

The Slovak staged a fast, flawless showdown on the tough course to the thunderous roar of the crowds. "I think both my runs were pretty fast but my tactics in the Olympic race were not so good but I think I was quick enough," he told reporters.

"I think it's the most difficult course in the world. I hope David will build a better one for 2012."

Martikan, the first slalom canoeist to win four Olympic medals, has already set his sights on his third Olympic gold in London.

"I don't want to stop competing. I hope to have the chance to compete at the Olympics in London and I will train very hard," he added.

Martikan's arch rival, double Olympic champion Tony Estanguet failed narrowly to earn his a slot in the final, posting a 9th place in the semifinal. The top eight enter the finals.

The 30-year-old Frenchman finished the semifinal in 93.92 seconds after being given a two-second penalty for touching a gate, five seconds slower than world number one Martikan.

This put an end to the long-anticipated highlight of the racing, and also Estanguet's bid to win the unprecedented third straight Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

Martikan finished first in the heat on Monday, while Estanguet posted a disappointing 6th place after touching a gate, showing an out-of-form on what many claimed the most difficult slalom course in the world.

Estanguet won the C1 gold in Sydney and retained the title in Athens, but only after a late review gave Martikan a two-second penalty for touching a gate and demoted him into second place narrowly.

"At Athens 2004 when I crossed the finish line, I could not believe I had not won. Now It's twelve years since I won gold but my feelings are very similar to when I won it then. I'm very happy," said the beaming Martikan.

"I was very, very disappointed," Estanguet said in a low mood after the racing. "The course is very tough, and I still couldn't get well used to it despite six visits here."

Martikan skipped the world cups this year in a bid to have his best shape at Beijing Olympics.

"It was impossible to go to the World Cup and prepare for Beijing Olympics at the same time for me. So I chose to prepare for the Games," said the Slovak, who took the world title in 2007.

"Coming from fourth from the semifinal to silver, I am happy on how I paddled," said Florence.

"It's such a relief getting a medal and it's so beneficial for Australian sport," said Bell, who won Australia's first white water canoeing medal.

"It's such a hard course out there. People were making mistakes and it was my lucky day," said Bell, who finished fourth in Athens, 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)