The walking phenomenon that is Robert KORZENIOWSKI struck again this morning when the Pole took his third World Championship title in this discipline, breaking his own world best performance by 36 seconds in 3:36:03.
Korzeniowski, who also has three Olympic gold medals, made his decisive move just before the half way mark and from there on simply destroyed the rest of the field.
German SKURYGIN of Russia, who was stripped of the 1999 world title because of a doping offence, took his first major championship medal, a silver, in a national record 3:36:42, after a brave effort to chase the Pole down between 35km and 45km.
Former European junior champion Andreas ERM was rewarded for his early efforts to stay with the 35-year-old's relentless pace, taking the bronze medal in a German record time of 3:37:46.
Korzenioski's incredible pace induced another four personal bests among the top eight and a string of season's bests right through the field.
After the first five kilometres there were already seven walkers clear - China's YU Chaohong was leading in 22:33, with Korzeniowski, Erm, Latvia's Aigars FADEJEVS and three Russians, Aleksey VOYEVODIN, Denis NIZHEGORODOV and Skurygin - before a gap of 31 seconds to the rest of the field.
By 10km Korzeniowski was leading the pack, in 44:33, but all seven were still in contention. It was the same at 15km (Korzenioswki in 1:06:47), but by 20km the group was down to six as Yu had already been disqualified.
It was at this point that Korzeniowski made his move, striding past the trio of Russians with Erm in pursuit. The pattern of the rest of the race had been set. The Pole opened a small gap and kept pushing. The Russians, until then chatting amongst themselves as they walked, rapidly adopted more serious expressions.
By the half way mark (passed in 1:50:14), Korzenioswki had six seconds on Erm and 30 on the Russians. Ledejevs had gone and Voyevodin was losing touch with his compatriots as Skurygin made his move. At 30km (2:11:20)Korzenioswki's lead over Erm had stretched to 18 seconds, and he had more than a minute over the Skurygin.
But the Russian had saved his strength and began to make up ground on the German, now 25 seconds behind the leader. He caught Erm and by the 40km mark (passed by Korzeniowski in 2:53:36) was only 19 seconds adrift, with Erm another 16 seconds back. By now the Pole was looking worried, as he had every right to be, for the gap came down to eight seconds, then six at 45km (3:14:51).
But Korzeniowski, who lives in northern France, had yet another gear. He turned the screw again in the final few kilometres to see off the Russian challenge. He entered the brightly lit Stade de France wearing sun glasses and a broad smile, crossing the line 39 seconds clear for a historic victory. The Pole, already the only man to win the world title more than once, now has three to his name.
Korzeniowski, who also has three Olympic gold medals, made his decisive move just before the half way mark and from there on simply destroyed the rest of the field.
German SKURYGIN of Russia, who was stripped of the 1999 world title because of a doping offence, took his first major championship medal, a silver, in a national record 3:36:42, after a brave effort to chase the Pole down between 35km and 45km.
Former European junior champion Andreas ERM was rewarded for his early efforts to stay with the 35-year-old's relentless pace, taking the bronze medal in a German record time of 3:37:46.
Korzenioski's incredible pace induced another four personal bests among the top eight and a string of season's bests right through the field.
After the first five kilometres there were already seven walkers clear - China's YU Chaohong was leading in 22:33, with Korzeniowski, Erm, Latvia's Aigars FADEJEVS and three Russians, Aleksey VOYEVODIN, Denis NIZHEGORODOV and Skurygin - before a gap of 31 seconds to the rest of the field.
By 10km Korzeniowski was leading the pack, in 44:33, but all seven were still in contention. It was the same at 15km (Korzenioswki in 1:06:47), but by 20km the group was down to six as Yu had already been disqualified.
It was at this point that Korzeniowski made his move, striding past the trio of Russians with Erm in pursuit. The pattern of the rest of the race had been set. The Pole opened a small gap and kept pushing. The Russians, until then chatting amongst themselves as they walked, rapidly adopted more serious expressions.
By the half way mark (passed in 1:50:14), Korzenioswki had six seconds on Erm and 30 on the Russians. Ledejevs had gone and Voyevodin was losing touch with his compatriots as Skurygin made his move. At 30km (2:11:20)Korzenioswki's lead over Erm had stretched to 18 seconds, and he had more than a minute over the Skurygin.
But the Russian had saved his strength and began to make up ground on the German, now 25 seconds behind the leader. He caught Erm and by the 40km mark (passed by Korzeniowski in 2:53:36) was only 19 seconds adrift, with Erm another 16 seconds back. By now the Pole was looking worried, as he had every right to be, for the gap came down to eight seconds, then six at 45km (3:14:51).
But Korzeniowski, who lives in northern France, had yet another gear. He turned the screw again in the final few kilometres to see off the Russian challenge. He entered the brightly lit Stade de France wearing sun glasses and a broad smile, crossing the line 39 seconds clear for a historic victory. The Pole, already the only man to win the world title more than once, now has three to his name.
