Hungary wins Olympic gold in men's canoe single 1,000m

Attila Sandor Vajda of Hungary crosses the finish line in the Canoe single (C1) 1000m men final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Canoe/Kayak Flatwater event in Beijing, China, Aug. 22, 2008. Attlia Sandor Vajda clinched the gold medal in this event with a time of 3:50.467. (Xinhua/Jiang Enyu)

Attila Sandor Vajda of Hungary came from behind to win the gold medal in the Olympic canoe flatwater men's single (C1) 1,000 meters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Friday.

Vajda won comfortably in 3 minutes, 50.467 seconds, earning Hungary's first gold medal at the Beijing Games.

Defending Olympic champion David Cal of Spain took silver in 3:52.751 and Thomas Hall of Canada, who won two pre-Games World Cups, took bronze in 3:53.653.

The 25-year-old Hungarian, bronze medalist in Athens and reigning world champion, was in sixth place by the 500 meters. But a late charge made him lead at the 750 meters and he held on the lead across the finish line.