Borchin hands Russia first athletics gold with walk win

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Walker Valeriy Borchin held off former champion Jefferson Perez of Ecuador on Saturday to hand Russia its first athletics gold of the Beijing Olympics.

Borchin won the men's 20 kilometres race walk in one hour, 19 minutes and 01 seconds for Russia's first-ever Olympic walking success.

The 22-year-old, who served a one-year drugs ban in the 2005/06 season, beat home 1996 Olympic champion Perez by 14 seconds, with Australian Jared Tallent a further 27 seconds adrift in the bronze medal position.

"I never expected to win this medal," said Borchin, who opened up the decisive gap over Perez with two kilometres to go.

"At the beginning, I was lagging behind. I feel my dream has come true."

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