Bulgarian rower Rumyana Neykova snatches the gold medal in the women's single sculls in rowing. [Xinuha]

Bulgarian rower Rumyana Neykova snatched the gold medal in women's single sculls in rowing at Beijing Olympics held in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday.

The Bulgarian rower crossed the finish line with a result of seven minutes 22.34 seconds, followed by U.S. rower Michelle Guerette with a result of 7:22.78 and Belarusian rower Ekterina Karsten at 7:23.98. Chinese rower Zhang Xiuyun finished fourth place with a result of 7:25.48.

"Until the end I still couldn't believe what I have achieved," Neykova said after the race.

The Czech rower Miroslava Knapkova took a head in the first part of the race, but in the middle, she was surpassed by the Bulgarian rower rowing in the fifth lane.

The American rower played very differently from the semifinals.

"I didn't have an early speed, but I thought I could sustain," she said.

The Chinese rower also thought that the race was a success for her.

"I already succeeded when I entered the final race. I am in very good form and I am very well prepared for the race," Zhang Xiuyun said.

The 32-year-old Zhang won a silver medal in women's double sculls at Atlanta Olympics in 1996, the first Chinese female rower to snatch a medal in Olympics.

Neykova, born in April 1973, is a double world champion, double Olympic medallist and triple World Cup double sculls winner. She won a silver medal at Sydney Olypmics and a bronze medal in Athens Olympics. 

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)