BEIJING-- Spanish paddlers snatched the gold medal in men's kayak double (K2) 500m by finishing the race with a result of 1:28.736 in Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Saturday.

The Spanish paddlers were the leader of the race all the way long. But defending champions German crew were energetic in their final sprint. Spain won the race by a hair. Germany won the silver medal (1:28.827) and the bronze medal was taken by Belarus (1:30.005).

"It's wonderful that we got the gold medal. We weren't expecting this; we cannot believe it," Spanish paddler Saul Craviotto said after the race.

"I'm dying. We are at our limits. We gave everything we could," he added.

The German crew created the world best time of 1:26.971 in Szeged of Hungary in 2002. Belarus won the bronze medal in the event at Athens Olympics in 2004.

In flatwater races, paddlers must race on a straight course, each boat in a separate lane. There are different distances for the athletes to compete in, the 500m and 1000m.