Gold medalist Olga Kaniskina (L) of Russia celebrates with bronze medalist Anisya Kirdyapkina of Russia after crossing the finish line during the women's 20km Race Walk (© Getty Images)
Moscow, RussiaThere were no surprises at the Russian national championships in Race Walking which concluded on Monday.
The composition of the Russian national Race Walking Olympic team had been known - but only by two-thirds. The coaches selected the best of the best, the Olympic champions and the winners of the World Cup.
So Yelena Lashmanova and the Olympic 20Km champion Olga Kaniskina already have the tickets to London city along with Andrei Krivov and another Olympic champion over the same distance Valeriy Borchin.
Over the 50km distance Russia will represented by two world champions Sergei Kirdyapkin and Sergei Bakulin.
So only the title of the Russian champion on these three distances guaranteed the third berth to three lucky winners. And it is for the Council of coaches to recommend the third participant of the team depending upon the results of the National Race Walking Championships that were taking place at Luzhniki stadium this weekend.
Let’s start with the ladies. It was the well-known walker Anisya Kirdyapkina who was unbeatable in 20 km where she clocked 1:27.43. Kirdyapkina who looked happy and not exhausted after her victory admitted that she’ll be happy to be in London with her husband Sergei. The family duo will surely struggle for medals and perhaps they’ll produce one of the best husband-wife results in the history of athletics.
Yuriy Morozov won the men’s 20km for the second year running in 1:19.51, and "will be recommended to the Olympic team". Most of all the two-time champion enjoyed the start and the finish at the Olympic stadium. He also liked the distance and was of the opinion that he was well prepared for the 2013 World Championships. His fate now is in the hands of the Council of coaches but the 24-year-old hopes he’ll be invited to the National team.
The 50 km race walkers started very early in the morning. And one of the veterans Yuriy Andronov proved that this sport and the distances weren’t only for the young generation. The race walker born in 1971 was first to reach the finish line clocking 3:40.46 to win by almost eight minutes.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
The composition of the Russian national Race Walking Olympic team had been known - but only by two-thirds. The coaches selected the best of the best, the Olympic champions and the winners of the World Cup.
So Yelena Lashmanova and the Olympic 20Km champion Olga Kaniskina already have the tickets to London city along with Andrei Krivov and another Olympic champion over the same distance Valeriy Borchin.
Over the 50km distance Russia will represented by two world champions Sergei Kirdyapkin and Sergei Bakulin.
So only the title of the Russian champion on these three distances guaranteed the third berth to three lucky winners. And it is for the Council of coaches to recommend the third participant of the team depending upon the results of the National Race Walking Championships that were taking place at Luzhniki stadium this weekend.
Let’s start with the ladies. It was the well-known walker Anisya Kirdyapkina who was unbeatable in 20 km where she clocked 1:27.43. Kirdyapkina who looked happy and not exhausted after her victory admitted that she’ll be happy to be in London with her husband Sergei. The family duo will surely struggle for medals and perhaps they’ll produce one of the best husband-wife results in the history of athletics.
Yuriy Morozov won the men’s 20km for the second year running in 1:19.51, and "will be recommended to the Olympic team". Most of all the two-time champion enjoyed the start and the finish at the Olympic stadium. He also liked the distance and was of the opinion that he was well prepared for the 2013 World Championships. His fate now is in the hands of the Council of coaches but the 24-year-old hopes he’ll be invited to the National team.
The 50 km race walkers started very early in the morning. And one of the veterans Yuriy Andronov proved that this sport and the distances weren’t only for the young generation. The race walker born in 1971 was first to reach the finish line clocking 3:40.46 to win by almost eight minutes.
Nickolai Dolgopolov and Rostislav Orlov for the IAAF
