China 48th Gold Medal:Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun

BEIJING - China's Meng Guanliang and Yang Wenjun claimed their second straight Olympic gold medal in the canoe double (C2) 500 meters on Saturday, staging almost a repeat of their thrilling victory in Athens.

Meng Guanliang (R) and Yang Wenjun of China paddle to win during the canoe double (C2) 500m men final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. [Agencies]

Meng and Yang finished in 1 minute and 41.025 seconds, fighting off the fast Sergey Ulegin and Alexander Kostoglod of Russia who took silver in 1:41.282. Christian Gille and Thomasz Wylenzek of Germany took bronze in 1:41.964.

The duo won the C2 500m race in a photo finish in Athens to give China its first Olympic gold medal in the sport.

The two made a slow start, but quickly led with powerful and fast strokes. They kept the lead till the finish line to the crazy roar of the home crowds.

The two fell into the water across the finish line after paddling to their exhaustion. The 25-year-old Yang hopped up and down and waved hands to the jubilant home fans after a life boat brought him on to the dock.

Meng and Yang were the first crew that successfully defended the title in the event at the Olympic Games.

"The gold medal means a lot to us," said Meng excitedly. "It's the first time the same crew won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the event. We have rewritten the history of this event."

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