Beijing - Latvian Maris Strombergs and Anne-Caroline Chausson from France Friday won the inaugural BMX cycling gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

Strombergs, who won the gold medal ahead of American duo Mike Day and Donny Robinson, finished in a time of 36.190 seconds, beating Day by 0.416 seconds.

Reigning world champion Strombergs won all three of his semi- final races to give him the preferred inside gate and stay outside the melee in the middle for the final.

South African Sifiso Nhlapo, who was hoping to become the first- ever black South African to win an Olympic medal in a non-athletic discipline, was looking good after the start, but crashed on the second corner and took Damien Godet and Jared Graves with him.

Strombergs said that he was hoping for the gold medal. "It didn't matter if it was the Olympics, the world championships or the European championships, the feeling is the same. I was very cool and concentrated."

"This Olympic gold is only one step in my career, I have a lot more to accomplish," he said.

The 21-year-old said he hoped that the Olympics would see BMX cycling become more popular. "It's a really big time for us BMX riders. A lot of young riders will come and love the sport and find it's really good and it gets better and better."

In the women's event Chausson won in a close finish against her teammate Laetitia le Corguille and American Jill Kintner. Chausson, who only returned to BMX cycling a few years ago after racing mountain bikes, finished in a time of 35.976 seconds, 2.066 seconds faster than le Corguille.

Pre-race favourite Shanaze Reade from Great Britain, crashed out in the final after falling.

Le Corguille said that she felt very emotional during the victory ceremony. "I could hear the anthem pretty well. I was emotional from the beginning and it was hard not to weep up there. I was happy as Shanaze Reade was the favourite, but we came first and second here. So it's great."

It was the first time the BMX bikes had been included in the Olympic calendar.