Denmark was crowned in lightweight men's four in Olympic rowing held in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Sunday with a result of 5 minutes 47.76 seconds.

It was followed by Poland with 5:49.39 and Canada 5:50.09.

Denmark took the lead all the way to the finish line. It finished the first 1,000 meters race with 2:52.43, some securing a one length lead. The stroke rate of the Danish crew was 39 per minute during the race, one or two strokes more than the runners-up.

"We led from the start. It couldn't be better. We have the strength in the end. It's the true day of fairy tales," Danish rower Andersen told reporters in the mixed zone.

The Olympic best time for the event is 5 minutes 50.24 seconds, a result achieved by an Australian crew at Athens Olympics in 2004. The world best time is 5 minutes 45.60 seconds created by a Danish team at Lucerne of Switzerland in July 1999.

Denmark won two Olympic gold medals in the event in 1996 Atlanta and 2004 Athens respectively, the only country in the world which has claimed two Olympic gold medals in the event.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17,2008)