"Olympic champion Yang Wenjun will be one of my rivals at the Olympic Games" was what Andreas Dittmer said after emerging winner in the men's C-1 500m with a time of 1:48.623. China's Yang Wenjun finished third in the event.

After the race Dittmer said that today's weather, some 10¡æ lower than yesterday, was similar to that in Europe and helpful to him in giving a good performance.

Yesterday he finished third in the C-1 1000m finals.

Next year Dittmer will be competing in the Olympic Games for the fourth time. Having kept two Olympic golds up his sleeve, the German veteran said Beijing 2008 would be his last Olympics and that he would never treat it lightly facing the challenges from a strong field, Yang Wenjun being one of them with his consistent performances in recent races. "There are also paddlers from Russia and Spain who are very competitive," said Dittmer. "Moreover, I have to pass the domestic selective trials in the men's C-1 500m and 1000m before I can represent Germany in Beijing."