Olympics: Norway's Larsen takes Kayak sprint gold

London, Aug 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Norwegian kayaker Eirik Veras Larsen produced a late surge to beat highly-rated Canadian Adam van Koeverden to take Olympic gold in the men's K1 1,000 metres sprint Wednesday.

Larsen won silver in the event in Beijing four years ago and overhauled van Koeverden in the final 250 meters of the race to take his first Olympic gold, winning by 0.708 seconds.

Van Koeverden took his fourth career Olympic medal in his only event of the Games after his preferred 500 meter sprint, where he is the defending champion, was removed from the schedule for 2012.

Bronze went to Germany's Max Hoff, who was fifth in Beijing.

Britain's defending champion Tim Brabants made little impact on the race, finishing a distant eighth in the final.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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