Chinese duo triumphs in men's canoe double 500m at Paris Olympics

Ji Bowen (L) and Liu Hao claim the gold medal in the men's canoe double 500m at the Paris Olympics on Aug 8. [Photo/IC]

Ji Bowen from Huzhou, Zhejiang province, clinched the gold medal with his partner Liu Hao in the men's canoe double 500m at the Paris Olympics on Aug 8, with a time of 1 minute 39.48 seconds.

This triumph marked China's third gold in the men's canoe double 500m event, following victories at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

During the competition, the Chinese duo surged ahead with powerful strokes, establishing an early lead and crossing the finish line in first place. Their dominance was evident from the preliminaries, where they shattered the Olympic record with a time of 1:37.40.

For Ji's first coach, Sha Sheng, this victory was a testament to Ji's unwavering determination and dream of representing China on the global stage — a dream that has now become a reality.

Born in 2002 in Anji county, Ji became a canoeing athlete in his primary school years. In 2015, he made the Zhejiang canoeing team and has showcased his talent in a number of international competitions. At the 2022 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, he won gold in the men's single 500m.

Ji's success also resulted in the second Olympic gold medal for Huzhou after the first in women's volleyball at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

On Aug 9, Ji will compete in the men's canoe single 1000m semifinals.