at sydney 2000 he won the c-1 1000 m gold as well as the bronze in the 500 m race. he then won three consecutive c-1 1000 m world titles (2001, 2002, 2003). in 2003 he also won his first world 500 m title, finally defeating four-time champion maxim opalev of russia to claim his first "double". at the european championships too he won three straight gold medals in his specialist 1000 m event, but had to be content with four consecutive silver medals behind opalev in the 500 m.