Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Canada's Adam van Koeverden broke his own world record in the men's kayak single 500 meters event as heats in flatwater canoe/kayak continued Tuesday at the Beijing Olympics.

The Canadian flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies in Beijing, van Koeverden won the opening heat in a time of 1 minute, 35.554 seconds, shaving .076 seconds off his own mark. He now advances to Thursday's semifinals, where he is expected to easily move on to Saturday's final round.

"It was a heat and I can go faster," said van Koeverden. "I am happy to hear that I have broke it, but I can definitely go faster than that."

Van Koeverden won a gold medal in the 500 and a bronze in the 1,000 meters at the Athens Games. He finished first in his 1,000m heat on Monday to pass over the semis and head straight to Friday's final.

Rami Zur of the United States moved into Thursday's semifinals of the 500 with a third-place finish in his heat. Zur is also scheduled to race Wednesday in the semifinals of the 1,000.

Carrie Johnson of the U.S. also qualified for the semis in the women's kayak single 500m, as she placed fourth in her heat. Italy's Josefa Idem, Katalin Kovacs of Hungary and Germany's Katrin Wagner-Augustin moved directly to the final round as a result of victories in their respective heats.

In the men's canoe single 500m, Spain's David Cal, Aliaksandr Zhukovski of Belarus and Russia's Maxim Opalev won their heats to advance straight to Saturday's final. The remaining start list for the final round will be determined by Thursday's semifinal races.

China, Russia, Poland, Germany, Belarus and the Ukraine moved into the final of men's canoe double 500m. The remaining three spots in the final will be determined in Thursday's semis.

Six teams qualified for the final round in men's kayak double 500m by finishing in the top-three of Tuesday's heats. Germany and Belarus won their races and France, Italy, Spain and Hungary also advanced. Eight teams will battle in Thursday's semis for the last three final berths.

In the women's kayak 500m doubles event, Kovacs and teammate Natasa Janic had the top time of 1:41.162 to advance to the final. Germany won its heat and moved onto the final.

08/19 06:25:34 ET