Frenchman pips Slovak to gold in slalom event

Sydney: Frenchman Tony Estanguet held off a strong challenge from defending champion Michal Martikan of Slovakia to win gold in the Olympic men's c1 slalom at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium on Monday.

Estanguet, the current world number one, was fastest in the first of two runs in the final and then third fastest in the second run for a total of 231.87 points.

Martikan, who won gold in Atlanta four years ago at the age of 17, was only fifth fastest in the first run but then produced a superb second run to finish just 1.89 points behind Estanguet.

Fellow Slovak Juraj Mincik was third, 2.35 points behind Estanguet, a 22-year-old student from Pau competing at his first Olympics.



(c) Reuters Limited.