Bronze in two-man kayak slalom third Czech medal at Olympics

The Czech team have taken their third medal at the Olympic Games in Athens, bronze for Jaroslav Volf and Ondrej Stepanek in the men's two-man kayak slalom. Stepanek said the two had felt under immense pressure for the previous two days, and were extremely relieved Friday's final went well. Slovak twins Peter and Pavol Hochschorner took gold in the event.

Meanwhile, Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych was knocked out in the quarterfinals at the Olympics by Taylor Dent of the USA on Thursday evening. The 18-year-old from Prostejov had earlier beaten world number one Roger Federer. And Martina Navratilova will not realise her dream of crowning her career with a first Olympic medal, after she and her US doubles partner were beaten in the quarterfinals.

Among Czech medal hopefuls on Saturday will be Vaclav Chalupa, who won silver in rowing at the 1992 Olympics, and Vera Pospisilova-Cechlova in the discus.

Author: Ian Willoughby