Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 50 km Walk
Encyclopedia
The Men's 50 km Walk
event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
as part of the athletics program
was held on August 27.
Poland's Robert Korzeniowski
added a fourth Olympic gold medal to his tally which already included gold medals from the 20 km in Atlanta 1996 and the historical double 20 km/50 km from Sydney 2000. The 36-year-old Pole, who is by far the most successful race walker in history, took a commanding win in the 50 km race walk in 3:38:46 — his third best time ever after his World record breaking performances at the European Championships in Munich 2002 and the Paris 2003 World Championships.
Korzeniowski came home more than four minutes ahead of Russia’s world record holder Denis Nizhegorodov
, who had bettered Korzeniowski’s mark when winning the national championships in June. Fourth at last year’s World Championships, Aleksey Voyevodin
also of Russia, managed to grab the bronze medal with a tremendous finish overtaking PR China’s Yu Caohong
just before entering the stadium. The Russian clocked 3:43:34 to the Chinese’s 3:43:45.
Korzeniowski wanted to mark the end of his illustrious career with an imposing performance at the Athens Olympic Games and not only did the Pole win the most coveted of all medals but he did it with courage, passion and style. In the leading pack since the very first stages of this gruelling event Korzeniowski was left alone in the lead when 2 hours and 25 minutes into the race Australia’s Nathan Deakes
, the 20 km bronze medal winner here in Athens, was shown the red card.
From then on it was Korzeniowski all the way. At 35 kilometres which Korzeniowski reached in 2:32:12, he already had a 30-second lead over Nizhegorodov and a further 22 seconds over Caohong who was still comfortably in medal contention. At this point, Voyevodin was in fourth 13 seconds behind the Chinese with Jesús Angel García
of Spain, Aigars Fadejevs
of Latvia, Roman Magdziarczyk
, another Pole, and 1996 20 km Olympic champion Jefferson Pérez
of Ecuador trailing behind. Pérez, who had a disappointing 20 km in Athens as he could only manage fourth, was struggling to keep up the pace. He even stopped and it looked like he was going to withdraw but such is the determination of the South American that he resumed walking and eventually finished 12th in a new national record 3:53:04.
Up front Korzeniowski was increasing his lead and coming through the 45th kilometre he was 41 second clear of Nizhegorodov. The polish champion inspires so much respect that every time he would lap another runner, he was showed the thumbs up by his own competitors. When lapping his compatriot Magdziarczyk the two shook hands in a gesture that told it all. On the side of the course among the hundredths of loud and cheerful Polish fans, Athanasia Tsoumeleka
, the 22-year-old Greek who won the women’s 20 km walk earlier in the week, was taking snap shots of Korzeniowski passing by.
Although there was hardly any one inside the Olympic stadium – all the fans had gathered along the 2 km loop course – Korzeniowski was greeted with a standing ovation. His arms up in the air, a Polish flag in his mouth, the Pole crossed the finish line for the last time in his competitive career.
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
event at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
as part of the athletics program
Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, the athletics events were held at the Athens Olympic Stadium from August 18 to August 29, except for the marathons , the race walks , and the shot put...
was held on August 27.
Poland's Robert Korzeniowski
Robert Korzeniowski
Robert Korzeniowski is a former Polish racewalker. He has won four gold medals at the Summer Olympics and three at world championships....
added a fourth Olympic gold medal to his tally which already included gold medals from the 20 km in Atlanta 1996 and the historical double 20 km/50 km from Sydney 2000. The 36-year-old Pole, who is by far the most successful race walker in history, took a commanding win in the 50 km race walk in 3:38:46 — his third best time ever after his World record breaking performances at the European Championships in Munich 2002 and the Paris 2003 World Championships.
Korzeniowski came home more than four minutes ahead of Russia’s world record holder Denis Nizhegorodov
Denis Nizhegorodov
Denis Gennadyevich Nizhegorodov is a Russian race walker and current world record holder in the 50 km racewalk, with a time of 3:34:14, set in Cheboksary on May 11, 2008.-Achievements:-References:...
, who had bettered Korzeniowski’s mark when winning the national championships in June. Fourth at last year’s World Championships, Aleksey Voyevodin
Aleksey Voyevodin
Aleksey Nikolayevich Voyevodin is a Russian race walker mainly competing over the 50 km distance. He has one World Championships silver medal, and won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics....
also of Russia, managed to grab the bronze medal with a tremendous finish overtaking PR China’s Yu Caohong
Yu Caohong
Yu Chaohong is a Chinese race walker.-Achievements:-References:...
just before entering the stadium. The Russian clocked 3:43:34 to the Chinese’s 3:43:45.
Korzeniowski wanted to mark the end of his illustrious career with an imposing performance at the Athens Olympic Games and not only did the Pole win the most coveted of all medals but he did it with courage, passion and style. In the leading pack since the very first stages of this gruelling event Korzeniowski was left alone in the lead when 2 hours and 25 minutes into the race Australia’s Nathan Deakes
Nathan Deakes
Nathan Deakes is an Australian race walker. Deakes trains with the Australian Institute of Sport....
, the 20 km bronze medal winner here in Athens, was shown the red card.
From then on it was Korzeniowski all the way. At 35 kilometres which Korzeniowski reached in 2:32:12, he already had a 30-second lead over Nizhegorodov and a further 22 seconds over Caohong who was still comfortably in medal contention. At this point, Voyevodin was in fourth 13 seconds behind the Chinese with Jesús Angel García
Jesús Ángel García
Jesús Ángel García Bragado is a Spanish race walker. He is married to gymnast Carmen Acedo.-Achievements:-References:...
of Spain, Aigars Fadejevs
Aigars Fadejevs
Aigars Fadejevs is a Latvian athlete, competing in 20 km, 50 km walk and marathon running.Fadejevs has competed in 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing 6th in 20 km walk and in 2000 Summer Olympics, winning the silver medal in 50 km,2004 Olympic,50 km 11th,20 km 9th...
of Latvia, Roman Magdziarczyk
Roman Magdziarczyk
Roman Magdziarczyk is a Polish race walker.-Achievements:-References:...
, another Pole, and 1996 20 km Olympic champion Jefferson Pérez
Jefferson Pérez
Jefferson Leonardo Pérez Quezada is a retired Ecuadorian race walker. He specializes in the 20 km event, in which he has won the only two medals his country has ever achieved in the Olympic Games....
of Ecuador trailing behind. Pérez, who had a disappointing 20 km in Athens as he could only manage fourth, was struggling to keep up the pace. He even stopped and it looked like he was going to withdraw but such is the determination of the South American that he resumed walking and eventually finished 12th in a new national record 3:53:04.
Up front Korzeniowski was increasing his lead and coming through the 45th kilometre he was 41 second clear of Nizhegorodov. The polish champion inspires so much respect that every time he would lap another runner, he was showed the thumbs up by his own competitors. When lapping his compatriot Magdziarczyk the two shook hands in a gesture that told it all. On the side of the course among the hundredths of loud and cheerful Polish fans, Athanasia Tsoumeleka
Athanasia Tsoumeleka
Athanasia Tsoumeleka is a Greek race walker, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.Until 2003 Tsoumeleka was a largely unknown athlete, and she only finished seventh at the World Championships that year...
, the 22-year-old Greek who won the women’s 20 km walk earlier in the week, was taking snap shots of Korzeniowski passing by.
Although there was hardly any one inside the Olympic stadium – all the fans had gathered along the 2 km loop course – Korzeniowski was greeted with a standing ovation. His arms up in the air, a Polish flag in his mouth, the Pole crossed the finish line for the last time in his competitive career.
Medalists
Abbreviations
| DNS | did not start |
| NM | no mark |
| OR | olympic record |
| WR | world record |
| AR | area record |
| NR | national record |
| PB | personal best |
| SB | season best |
Records
| Standing records prior to the 2004 Summer Olympics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Record | 3:35:29 | June 13, 2004 |  CheboksaryCheboksary -Twin towns/sister cities:Cheboksary is twinned with: Eger in Hungary Antalya in Turkey Santa Clara in CubaAlso Partnerships are shown with: Rundu in Namibia -External links:****... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
|
| Olympic Record | 3:38:29 | September 30, 1988 |  SeoulSeoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... , South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... |
|
Intermediates
| Rank | Number | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 44:48 | ||
| 2 | 44:48 | ||
| 3 | 44:49 | ||
| 4 | 44:49 | ||
| 5 | 44:49 | ||
| 20 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 1:27:54 | ||
| 2 | 1:27:54 | ||
| 3 | 1:27:54 | ||
| 4 | 1:27:55 | ||
| 5 | 1:28:00 | ||
| 30 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 2:10:57 | ||
| 2 | 2:10:57 | ||
| 3 | 2:10:57 | ||
| 4 | 2:10:58 | ||
| 5 | 2:11:13 | ||
| 40 KILOMETRES | |||
| 1 | 2:53:42 | ||
| 2 | 2:54:33 | ||
| 3 | 2:56:26 | ||
| 4 | 2:58:31 | ||
| 5 | 2:59:43 | ||
Final ranking
| Rank | Athlete | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:38:46 | |||
| 3:42:50 | |||
| 3:43:34 | |||
| 4 | 3:43:45 | ||
| 5 | 3:44:42 | SB | |
| 6 | 3:48:11 | ||
| 7 | 3:49:09 | PB | |
| 8 | 3:49:48 | SB | |
| 9 | 3:50:28 | ||
| 10 | 3:51:55 | ||
| 11 | 3:52:52 | ||
| 12 | 3:53:04 | NR Ecuadorian records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in Ecuador maintained by Ecuador's national athletics federation: Federación Ecuatoriana de Atletismo .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distance... |
|
| 13 | 3:53:20 | SB | |
| 14 | 3:54:22 | ||
| 15 | 3:55:43 | ||
| 16 | 3:57:00 | ||
| 17 | 3:58:33 | ||
| 18 | 3:59:11 | ||
| 19 | 3:59:32 | ||
| 20 | 3:59:33 | ||
| 21 | 4:00:25 | ||
| 22 | 4:01:32 | ||
| 23 | 4:02:06 | ||
| 24 | 4:03:51 | ||
| 25 | 4:04:26 | ||
| 26 | 4:05:02 | ||
| 27 | 4:05:16 | ||
| 28 | 4:05:35 | ||
| 29 | 4:06:48 | ||
| 30 | 4:09:41 | ||
| 31 | 4:10:31 | ||
| 32 | 4:11:31 | ||
| 33 | 4:11:51 | ||
| 34 | 4:12:24 | ||
| 35 | 4:12:49 | ||
| 36 | 4:13:11 | ||
| 37 | 4:13:40 | ||
| 38 | 4:15:01 | ||
| 39 | 4:17:25 | ||
| 40 | 4:20:11 | ||
| 41 | 4:29:33 | ||
| DISQUALIFIED (DSQ) | |||
| — | DSQ | ||
| — | DSQ | ||
| — | DSQ | ||
| — | DSQ | ||
| — | DSQ | ||
| DID NOT FINISH (DNF) | |||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||
| — | DNF | ||