Robert Korzeniowski of Poland wins the 50km walk (© Getty Images)
Paris, FrancePoland’s Robert Korzeniowski says he had to find the spirit of a 20km walker to win the World 50km Race Walk title for the third time.
The 35-year-old had the race under control until Russia’s German Skurygin closed dramatically to within six seconds with 5km to go, and the Pole knew he had to find a way of responding.
But respond he did, and improved his own world best as well as securing the gold medal with a stunning 3:36:03, to take 36 seconds off his record set when winning the European title last year.
Now he aims to defend his Olympic crown next year and take his roll of honour to nine gold medals in Olympic, World or European Championships. But even if he does get gold number nine, Korzenkiowski is not planning to take his tally into double figures.
He says: “After next year I will retire internationally. I hope to win gold in Athens but it is probably unlikely I will break the world record there as it will be hot, so I think today was probably my final world record." and I am therefore disappointed I will not receive the $100,000....although I am not in this sport for the money. When I walk I do not think about how much money I will earn, I just try to win races. I felt I had the race under control today but then German came back and gave me a very big scare."
“I was getting very worried because I was walking faster than I have ever done and yet he was still closing on me, so I had to find the spirit of a 20km walker, to think and walk like I would in a 20km race.
“I came here expecting the best that would happen would be winning the gold medal, I did not think I would also break the record so that was a bonus. I didn’t think I was capable of walking so fast, but I gave it everything I had. I found the last 12km so tough. It was probably the toughest race I have ever done.”
Korzeniowski had plenty of support out on the course as he lives and competes in France, although he still has business interests back home where he owns a sports shop. Now the reigning World, Olympic and European champion hopes to produce another scintillating display in Athens next year so he can bow out on a high.
(ED. Note - IAAF Council meeting on 28 August decided to award Robert Korzeniowski and Jeffereson Perez (ECU) $100,000 in recognition of their respective World Best Performances in the 50km Walk and 20km Walk, respectively, even though their performances will not officially be recognised as World Records until 1 January 2004, as a gesture of Fair Play towards these two outstanding athletes).
