Ivano Brugnetti, Olympic 20km Race Walk champion, showed that he is returning to his best after this winter's pelvis injury with an impressive unofficial World best of 37:58.60 over the 10km race walking distance on the track in his final test before the World Championships at Helsinki.
The race was held in the Pino Dordoni athletics stadium in Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan where he trains regularly.
The previous World best was set by the then Czechoslovakian Jozef Priblinec (SVK) who walked 38:02.60 in Banska Bystrica on 30 August 1985.
Last year, Brugnetti who is coached by Antonio La Torre broke the italian record with 38:23.5 in Saluzzo just two weeks before his fabulous Olympic win in Athens.
The 20km race for the World title in the Finnish capital will be held on Saturday 6 August, the opening day of the World Championships in Helsinki.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
