Tufte Olaf of Norway wins his second Olympic gold medal in the men's single sculls. [Xinhua]

Tufte Olaf of Norway won his second Olympic rowing gold medal, beating strong rivals to successfully defend the men's single sculls title here on Saturday.

Olaf, 32, was in second place behind Drysdale by the 1,500-meter mark, but a late surge led him to finish first in 6 minutes, 59.83 seconds.

The time was 0.80 seconds ahead of silver medalist Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic. Three-time reigning world champion Mahe Drysdale took bronze in 7:01.56.

Olaf punched his fists into the air in great joy after the win at the finish line. "I'll go home and get married," he said at the mixed zone of his plan after the Games.

"The race was good, but very difficult," said Synek, who won the World Cup race in Lucerne in June.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)