Martin Fuksa, who is in France for his third Olympics, came to France with the goal of winning the Olympic gold medal. After two previous fifth-place finishes, he won it on Friday.

The Czech won the 500m men's single canoe race with an Olympic record of 3:43.16. He beat Isequias Quierez of Brazil who won silver and Serghei Tarnichi of Moldova who took bronze.

"Finally, finally. Fuksa said to reporters that he was fifth in Tokyo and fifth in Rio, but now he is an Olympic champion.

"I've won so many medals at European and World Championships and now, I have my first Olympic medal in gold. "It is the best of all my medals," he said.

Not only is he a canoeist, but a member of his family has won a number of medals. His father Petr is an 11-time world champion medalist who competed in the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta.

Martin began canoeing at 14 years old. He now has 13 children of his own. His career in the sport is a family affair.

It is amazing. We still train in the small town where my FUKSA team is from. We love this sport. Martin says, "Training every day with my dad, my father's family and my brother is amazing."

It is an amazing feeling to be a champion. "It is not only my medal but also all of my family members'."

Fuksa wanted to share this moment with the team, having waited for so long to receive his Olympic medal.

He said, "I'm looking forward to seeing my wife, my mother and everyone." "I've only seen my father, grandfather and brother, but I am eager to see the rest of my family." (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Philip O'Connor)

(source: Reuters)