The men's five-kilometre race was first to be contested on Karteros beach with Guidi completing the four-lap event in 55min 50.7sec.

He held off a stern challenge from compatriot Dario Verani who settled for silver, finishing half a second off the pace.

Portugal's Tiago Campos rounded out the podium with a bronze medal-worthy time of 56:00.0.

Guidi, who was a silver medallist at Patras 2019, set a new competition record with his time breaking the previous best which was set by Verani at Pescara 2015.

"It was a beautiful race in a beautiful place!" said Guidi.

"This sport centre is amazing.

"In the third lap and in the fourth and final one I pushed and managed to win this race.

"I am happy that I won gold after getting the silver medal in the previous Mediterranean Beach Games."

The women's 5km race saw Bridi prevail in 59:58.9, to beat Portugal's Mafalda Jorge Rosa by just 0.2 seconds while reigning champion Silvia Ciccarella clocked in after 1:00.03 for the bronze.

There was further Italian success in store later in the day as Giulia Gasparri and Doriano Beccaccioli triumphed in the beach tennis mixed doubles final.

They edged out compatriots Nicole Nobile and Diego Bollettinari 2-1. 

Each pair won a set 6-1 before the match went to a tiebreak third set which ended 11-9.

The bronze medal was won by the Spaniards with Eva Fernandez Palos and Antonio Miguel Ramos Vieira who beat France's Lola Barrau and Theo Irigaray.

They won the first set 6-0 before Barrau was forced to withdraw through injury.

Canoe ocean racing reached its conclusion today with Spain monopolising the gold medals.

Bouzan Sanchez cruised to victory in the men's 10km final before Judit Verges Xifra completed the double in the women's event which was contested over the same distance.

The Games are due to conclude tomorrow with medals to be won in beach tennis, beach volleyball, and finswimming.