Defending champion Germany won the women's kayak four (K4) 500m gold medal at the Beijing Olympics with a result of one minute and 32.231 seconds on Friday.

The German paddlers took the lead at first and maintained the advantage till the end of the race. They were followed by Hungary with a result of 1:32.971 and Australia 1:34.704.

Germany is one of the two powerhouses in flatwater races. The other is Hungary. In Athens four years ago, Germany triumphed in 1:34.3 ahead of Hungary.

"I wear a gold necklace with a Chinese dragon on it. I think it can bring good luck to me. I am very happy with my result. I come for the gold medal and I feel super," German paddler Katrin Wagner-Augustin told Xinhua in the mixed zone.

"We work strongly together. At the start and at the finish I knew we were going to get gold. I knew all the way through," Fanny Fischer from Germany said.

Her partner Nicole Reinhardt also said that the race was great and felt so happy to go back with a gold medal.

"From spectator to Olympic medal holder, it's amazing," she said.

"It was a dream to compete, let alone walk away with a gold medal," she added.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2008)