Ivanov lifts Russian spirits with walk title
Aleksandr Ivanov gave hosts Russia their first gold of the world championships yesterday and the country's third successive title in the 20 kilometres walk.
The 20-year-old timed 1hr 20min 58sec as he crossed the line to roars of delight from the crowd, ahead of China's Olympic champion Chen Ding (1hr 21min 09sec) while Spaniard Miguel Lopez, fifth in
the Olympics, took bronze (1hr 21min 21sec).
MOSCOW (AFP) - Aleksandr Ivanov gave hosts Russia their first gold of the world championships yesterday and the country's third successive title in the 20 kilometre walk.
The 20-year-old timed 1hr 20min 58sec as he crossed the line to roars of delight from the crowd, ahead of China's Olympic champion Chen Ding (1hr 21min 09sec) while Spaniard Miguel Lopez, fifth in the Olympics, took bronze (1hr 21min 21sec).
Ivanov said that it signified a changing of the guard in Russian walking, and that although he had found parts of his first senior championships race tough the youngsters had replaced the veterans.
“My main aim is Rio 2016,” he said.
“The beginning was particularly tough but I kept telling myself keep going, you have to keep going.” Chen was delighted with the silver after a miserable time since his Olympic triumph that has been hampered by injuries and this was his first race back. “I haven't had a good time since then, but I think this has lifted me out of the hole,” said the 21-year-old. Japanese youngster Takuma Saito set the early pace once the field had left the stadium, opening a significant gap on a group of three, who were themselves clear of the main pack.
Saito's more experienced teammate, the Asian champion Yusuke Suzuki gave chase and had reduced the gap to just two seconds at the 5km mark, while the main pack was 13sec adrift.
Suzuki joined and passed Saito soon afterwards with the latter a spent force, although his efforts had not been in vain in ensuring he set an early pace to meet his more senior colleague's demands.
Suzuki, 25, held a 13sec lead at the halfway mark but faced a daunting final 10km as a sextet, which included the first three from last year's Olympics including China's Chen and bronze medallist Wang Zhen as well as Guatemala's silver medalist Erick Barrondo closed him down.
The game was up soon afterwards as Suzuki was caught.
Wang then went out in front but his dreams of taking gold this time were dashed as he received a third and final warning, though he appeared to be unaware of it and carried on until finally being forced to leave the fray.