Australia wins men's double sculls rowing gold. [Xinhua]

Australia led all the way to win the Olympic men's double sculls gold, contributing the second rowing gold to the team on Saturday.

The crew of David Crawshay and Scott Brennan won in 6 minutes, 27.77 seconds, holding off the fast sprinting Tonu Endrekson and Juri Jaanson of Estonia who won silver in 6:29.05. Matthew Wells and Stephen Rowbotham of Britain took the bronze in 6:29.10.

Australia earlier retained the men's pair title, earning the third Olympic gold medal for rowing great Drew Ginn.

The win in the doubles came as a huge surprise for the Australians as they managed to upset strong favorites France, Slovenia, and New Zealand.

"I honestly can't believe it just happened. It's all a blur, a very exhausting blur," Brennan said emotionally shortly after the race.

"I'm so shocked. We did what we wanted to do. We were ahead after 1,000 meters, and after that it was a case of 'You catch me, you beat me," Crawshay said.

"It's a disappointment, but we enjoyed the moment," Stephen said shortly after the race.

"My fiancee had told me that if I didn't win the gold, she would not marry me," the 21-year-old Briton said jokingly.

Saturday, the first Olympic rowing finals day, was a bitter one for teams from New Zealand, Fance, and Slovenia as they missed out on a medal with a 4th, 5th, and 6th finishes.

France won the Olympic gold medal in Athens and world title in 2006. The Slovenia duo took gold in Sydney and silver in Athens, and also won three world titles. The New Zealand crew won two pre-Games world cup races.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2008)