On 12 July 2000, in Russia, Irina Privalova ran her first race EVER at 400m hurdles. Tonight, in the fifth significant race of her new career she has become the new Olympic champion! Not content with whopping a whole second off her two day old personal best to cross the line with 53.02, Privalova also beat the defending Olympic champion Deon Hemmings and the two former world champions Daimi Pernia and Nezha Bidouane. Having previously won medals at 100m, 200m and 400m, the 31 year-old Russian, who has a personal best at 100m of 10.77, has finally found her vocation. Once renowned as one of the world's greatest all-round sprinters, Privalova's talents obviously extend to the hurdles. The world record of 52.61 must be a realistic target now.
From the gun, Deon Hemmings went off hard, but Privalova, alternating right and left leg leads, remained ominously close, carefully controlling her speed, before surging into a clear lead in the final 100 metres. Switching down from a 15 to 17 step pattern for the last few hurdles, Privalova only showed her discomfort in the last few strides. Eyes fixed to the front, probably anticipating the typical late rush of Bidouane, Privalova did not relax until she was cleanly across the line, when she broke into a smile. In fact, Privalova was actually three metres ahead of Hemmings (53.45), with Bidoune third with 53.57. Last year's world champion Pernia, finished fourth with 53.68.
