BEIJING -- Belarus claimed the Olympic gold medal in the men's kayak four (K4) 1,000 meters in the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Friday.

(R-L) Raman Piatrushenka, Aliaksei Abalmasau, Artur Litvinchuk and Vadzim Makneu of Belarus paddle to win their men's kayak four K4 1000m final of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park north of Beijing, August 22, 2008. [Agencies]

The team finished in two minutes, 55.714 seconds, 0.879 seconds ahead of Slovakia. Germany, silver medalists in Athens, took bronze in 2:56.593.

Hungary, who won the gold medals in Sdyney and Athens, missed out on a medal with a fifth finish.

China, silver medalists in a pre-Games world cup race, came in seventh place.