Today was a special day. Twenty-five years ago the story of one of the greatest walkers of all time began, but for the writer it was the victory of the one who over the years with humility and my great joy gave me the honor of his friendship that still does not know today. interruptions.
Thanks great friend Jeff.
In Atlanta (USA), the participants in the 20km walk were 60, coming from 33 countries.
We were in the presence of a new generation.
Almost all countries had renewed their "top athletes park" starting with Spain, which had already done so on the occasion of the previous Olympics at Barcelona 1992.
The winner was a new name, from a new country, which no one would ever have predicted: yes, that Jefferson Perez, who four years earlier very young, in Barcelona had retired even before the 5 Km., And who, still very much young, with this victory he began to write some of the most beautiful pages of modern march, both in terms of number of victories and as a technical gesture.
The weather, which had aroused much concern for his forecast of heat, was very favorable for walkers with a temperature around 28°C, rather than the average expected of 31°C.
At the first control checkpoint (4Km) the Spaniard Valenti Massana (16:46) was leading, but since he had decided to double also on the 50Km he soon gave up in his action, and concentrating on a particular training for the race for he most important. He will finish 20th in 1:24:14.
The lead of the group is then taken by Rishat Shafikov, but at 8Km the group is still, always led by Shafikov, of 18 units.
Immediately after the group falls apart, and at 16Km only seven remain. Shafikov and Markov lead two kilometers from the end, but Miguel Rodriguez (MEX) and Jefferson Perez (ECU) closely chase the two Russians. The Mexican Rodriguez is disqualified shortly after when there are 1500 meters to the finish.
Perez catches up with Markov one kilometer from the finish while Shafikov's action had already faded for a few minutes.
Perez immediately takes the lead and leaves a stunned Markov in place. The race is over: Markov has to settle for the silver, about 30 meters apart, while the bronze goes to the other Mexican Bernardo Segura, in turn about 25 meters behind Markov.
1. Jefferson PEREZ (ECU) 1:20:07
2. Ilya MARKOV (RUS) 1:20:16
3. Bernardo SEGURA (MEX) 1:20:23
4. Nick A’HERN (AUS) 1:20:31
5. Rishat SHAFIKOV (RUS) 1:20:41
6. Aigars FADEJEVS (LAT) 1:20:47
7. Mikhail SHCHENNIKOV (RUS) 1:21:09
8. Robert KORZENIOWSKI (POL) 1:21:13
Split times:
Perez: 4 Km. 16:49
8 Km. 32:59
12 Km. 48:57
16 Km. 1:04:45
Markov: 4 Km. 16:47
8 Km. 32:57
12 Km. 48:56
16 Km. 1:04:45
Segura: 4 Km. 16:47
8 Km. 32:59
12 Km. 48:57
16 Km. 1:04:45
A’Hern: 4 Km. 16:50
8 Km. 33:00
12 Km. 48:57
16 Km. 1:04:45
Shafikov: 4 Km. 16:47
8 Km. 32:56
12 Km. 48:41
16 Km. 1:04:45
Fadejevs: 4 Km. 16:51
8 Km. 32:59
12 Km. 48:57
16 Km. 1:04:45
Shchennikov: 4 Km. 16:49
8 Km. 32:57
12 Km. 48:56
16 Km. 1:04:52
Korzeniowski: 4 Km. 16:48
8 Km. 33:00
12 Km. 49:02
16 Km. 1:05:10
It is the first of Jefferson Perez’s major streak of victories, but it is also Ecuador’s first Olympic medal.
In addition, the race should be remembered as it is the first time, and still the only one to date, in which six athletes, I finished a period of 40 seconds: then it was the arrival of the first six closest in the history of the Games. Olympic.