DORNEY, England - Ukraine cruised to victory in the women's Olympic quad scull on on Wednesday to claim their first Olympic rowing gold medal in an event they have dominated all season.

Ukraine stormed ahead from the start to lead by almost a length at the 500 metre mark of the 2,000 metre course before extending that to win by clear water over the Germans in silver, who had won every Olympic quad final between 1988 and 2004.

The United States finished in third.