"Next year's Beijing Olympics will see the last race in my professional career," said Andreas Dittmer, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Germany.

The "Good Luck Beijing" 2007 Canoe/Kayak Flatwater Open saw final races contested today in six events. In the men's C-1 1000m, Dittmer was beaten to the third place by Russian and Mexican paddlers who placed first and second respectively. "I got very strong rivals today. They started strong and it was difficult for me to catch up with them," said Dittmer, who called it an accident.

However, Dittmer did not seem depressed. Tomorrow he will compete in the men's C-1 500m finals. Speaking of tomorrow's finals, he said, "I know Yang Wenjun is an excellent paddler. Of course there are other ace paddlers who wish to get onto the victor's podium."

At the Duisburg World Championships held two weeks ago, Dittmer won the event and the ticket to the Olympic Games for the fourth time. He said Beijing 2008 would be his last Olympics as a professional paddler. "I've got two Olympic golds and hope next year's Beijing Games will remain a happy memory in my life," he added.