Ivano Brugnetti of Italy kisses the track after winning gold in the 20km Walk in Athens (© Getty Images)
Athens, Greece 27yearold Ivano Brugnetti of Italy took the 20km Walk Olympic title here today following a superb race which saw him defeat Spain’s Francisco Javier Fernandez into second and Nathan Deakes of Australia into third.
24 years after the great Maurizio Damilano took the country’s third Olympic gold medal in the history of Race Walking (50km wins in 1950 and 1964) the 20km Walk Olympic title returns to Italy, courtesy of Brugnetti’s devastating kick in the last kilometres of the race.
Brugnetti’s finishing time of 1:19:40 is a new personal best for the Italian and former World champion at 50km; Fernandez clocked 1:19:45 for silver with Deakes another 17 seconds behind.
Former Olympic champion and World Race Walking Cup winner Jefferson Perez of Ecuador who was an overwhelming favourite for the title took a disappointing fourth place in 1:20:38.
Juan Manuel Molina of Spain was fifth in 1:20:55 and Hongjun Zhu sixth in 1:21:40.
“This is like a dream come true,” said Brugnetti following his performance. “Four years of hard work in training have finally paid off. I have always believed in my abilities. I knew I was in shape for winning a medal here but I honestly didn’t think that medal would be the gold one.”
The race resulted in a head to head between Brugnetti and Fernandez who were in the lead for virtually the whole of the race. The first of ten laps was covered in a relatively slow 8:11 with already the eventual medallists in the leading pack which still counted an impressive 40 athletes fifteen minutes into the race.
The Chinese challenge never materialized despite the trio of Yucheng Han, Yunfeng Liu and Zhu leading the athletes out of the stadium in the very first stages of the race. Soon team-leader Han who will also contest the 50km in Athens failed to keep up with the leaders leaving Yufeng and Zhu with the burden to defend the Chinese chances.
Following a second and third lap timed in 8:12 and 8:03 respectively, Fernandez toughened the pace and led Brugnetti, African champion Hatem Goula of Tunisia, Yufeng, Perez and Deakes, the Commonwealth champion, going into the 6th kilometre.
The leading pack was down to 8 walkers when Goula was shown the first yellow card. 38 minutes into the race Fernandez, Brugnetti and Deakes were three metres clear of Perez who was distanced for the first time.
With Fernandez being timed in 40:18 half way through the race it was now clear that Perez was struggling to keep up the pace. Four laps to go and the three eventual medallists had now gained a massive 10 metres lead over Perez with Zhu, the third Chinese, and Sydney Olympic silver medallist Noé Hernandez of Mexico just behind.
Fifty minutes into the race, Brugnetti made his first move to try and distance the rest of the field but Deakes wasn’t going to have it and the Australian kept up with the pace. Fernandez was temporarily two metres behind but the real surprise was Perez who was now eleven seconds adrift.
While Hernandez was disqualified after a third yellow card, Perez decided to make his move and gradually caught up with the leaders. Amazingly in less than three minutes, Perez was back in the front with the three leaders.
For a moment it looked like the Ecuadorian would easily take control of the race but that was not to last for long as Fernandez struck again with two laps to go. It was the end for Perez’s Olympic gold medal ambitions.
Brugnetti, Fernandez and Deakes walked shoulder to shoulder for the next kilometre before the two Europeans toughened the pace even more and had a three-second lead over Deakes going into the final lap. Perez was 20 seconds back!
The Italian’s decisive move came with one kilometre to go as Brugnetti gradually gained metre after metre over Fernandez.
Heading into the Olympic stadium Brugnetti was a good ten metres clear of Fernandez and started acknowledging the crowd and savouring his Olympic gold medal.
“I knew the gold medal would be mine if I managed to stay with Fernandez up to the last kilometre because he is not as strong as I am mentally in the finishing stages of the race.”
“This medal is the result of four years of sacrifices, hard work and stubbornness.”
A former 50km specialist who failed to perform at his best for the past four years, Brugnetti decided to concentrate only on the 20km race this winter following his third place finish at the Tijuana IAAF Race Walking Challenge.
“I came third behind the two greats Perez and Korzeniowski so I thought I may have a chance at the event."
“I honestly expected Perez to prove a stronger challenge and I still do not understand what happened. He may have had some problems during the race.”
“I have completely changed my training: before I used to work on my stamina for the 50km; this year I have worked more on strength. Hopefully this is only the beginning of a new era for me.”
The heat of the Greek capital didn’t seem to affect Brugnetti but on the contrary helped him perform at his best.
“I love the heat, I wish all races could be held in such hot cities. I was successful in Seville, which was even hotter, and Tijuana this winter so I believe the conditions were perfect for me today.”
Gracious in defeat, Fernandez acknowledged his friend’s victory today.
“I would have liked to win the Olympic title, but today Ivano was stronger. I can't but congratulate him for his performance.”
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