by Larry Eder
Olga Kaniskina, 2011 World Championships/Daegu, 20km, photo by PhotoRun.net
Updated September 8, 2011
We asked 1956 Olympian Elliott Denman (50k Race Walk), a noted journalist in the running trade, to cover the walks for us. Elliot did a column on the 20k men’s race on the second day, and he will cover the 50k on Saturday.
Today, he is writing about Olga Kaniskina and her third win in the 20k. We hope that you enjoy Elliot’s work:
Kaniskina, Kirdyapkina, Sokolova, 2011 WC 20km Women’s walk, photo by PhotoRun.net
By ELLIOTT DENMAN
They need to change the name of our sport – in Americanese, anyway.
“Track and field” no longer tells the whole story.
It needs to be: ‘Track, Field and Road.”
Now that the three racewalks have joined the two
marathons as separate entities – starting and finishing on enclosed
road courses – kilometers/miles distant from the main stadium venue – a
more inclusive title for all the goings-on seems to be in order.
marathons as separate entities – starting and finishing on enclosed
road courses – kilometers/miles distant from the main stadium venue – a
more inclusive title for all the goings-on seems to be in order.
That computes to 10.6 percent of the full program – representing five of 47 events – being neither “track” nor ”field.”
2009 World Champs 20k Walk, Berlin (look whose leading; Kaniskina), photo by PhotoRun.net
2009 World Champs 20k Walk, Berlin (look whose leading; Kaniskina), photo by PhotoRun.netBerlin’s 2009 World Championships organizers
first staged the three racewalks – men’s and women’s 20Ks, men’s 50K –
in an iconic city-center location – and the move was hugely successful.
At one point, it was estimated that over 100,000 fans were out there,
on the 2K loop course framed by the classic Brandenburg Gate, cheering
on the planet’s speediest pedestrians. The athletes loved all that
attention, the fans loved the chance to cheer all these world-class
athletes up-close-and-personal (and, oh yes, it was free), and the IAAF
loved the fact that the walkers were finally being appreciated, as
spotlight-grabbers in their own right, rather than as interlopers
breaking up the action at the big stadium.
first staged the three racewalks – men’s and women’s 20Ks, men’s 50K –
in an iconic city-center location – and the move was hugely successful.
At one point, it was estimated that over 100,000 fans were out there,
on the 2K loop course framed by the classic Brandenburg Gate, cheering
on the planet’s speediest pedestrians. The athletes loved all that
attention, the fans loved the chance to cheer all these world-class
athletes up-close-and-personal (and, oh yes, it was free), and the IAAF
loved the fact that the walkers were finally being appreciated, as
spotlight-grabbers in their own right, rather than as interlopers
breaking up the action at the big stadium.
Well, Daegu has followed suit and the
racewalkers – strutting their stuff in center city – are again getting
the appreciation they may not have been getting when the event was a
start-on-the-stadium-track, head-for-the-exits,
walk-loops-on-some-adjacent-road, then rush-to-a-final-300 meters-back-on-the-track, often-with-sparse-applause kind of event.
racewalkers – strutting their stuff in center city – are again getting
the appreciation they may not have been getting when the event was a
start-on-the-stadium-track, head-for-the-exits,
walk-loops-on-some-adjacent-
All plans are to make the racewalk courses at the 2012 London Olympic Games the most iconic yet.
2011 WC/Daegu, 20km, Kaniskina, Kirdyapkina, photo by PhotoRun.net
2011 WC/Daegu, 20km, Kaniskina, Kirdyapkina, photo by PhotoRun.netThey, almost surely, will be staged over a 2K
loop on the famous mall – pronounced “mal’ in Britishese – directly
fronting Buckingham Palace.
loop on the famous mall – pronounced “mal’ in Britishese – directly
fronting Buckingham Palace.
“And what could be more iconic than that?”
asked Peter Marlow, for years and years a mainstay of the IAAF’s
racewalking hierarchy and a leading member of IAAF judging panels for
top events staged around the globe.
asked Peter Marlow, for years and years a mainstay of the IAAF’s
racewalking hierarchy and a leading member of IAAF judging panels for
top events staged around the globe.
Marlow and his judging panel companions
here have been working with due diligence and upholding the rules of the
racewalking game – requiring a straightened knee on a walker’s initial
stride landing, and contact with the ground throughout. Bur a key
phrase in the the definition also stipulates “as seen by the human eye.”
In other words, this will remain a decision retained by the men and
women of the panel, not subject to further analysis by technology.
That’s the way the walkers like it, that’s the way the IAAF likes it,
and that’s he way it will continue.
here have been working with due diligence and upholding the rules of the
racewalking game – requiring a straightened knee on a walker’s initial
stride landing, and contact with the ground throughout. Bur a key
phrase in the the definition also stipulates “as seen by the human eye.”
In other words, this will remain a decision retained by the men and
women of the panel, not subject to further analysis by technology.
That’s the way the walkers like it, that’s the way the IAAF likes it,
and that’s he way it will continue.
As other events in sport’s gamut continue to
deal with tough calls – witness Usain Bolt’s false start DQ in the 100,
Dayron Robles’ interference DQ in the 110 hurdles – racewalking has been
free of such acrimony. The judges have done their job, get high marks
and continue to be the backbone of racewalking.
deal with tough calls – witness Usain Bolt’s false start DQ in the 100,
Dayron Robles’ interference DQ in the 110 hurdles – racewalking has been
free of such acrimony. The judges have done their job, get high marks
and continue to be the backbone of racewalking.
Fifty women – representing 32 nations and all
six continents – answered the starting call for the 20K at the IAAF’s
13th World Championships. The size of the field and its diversity were
remarkable and the IAAF’s higher-ups surely needed to take note. This,
truly, was an event for the whole planet. Or at least until they start
training racewalkers on the seventh continent – Antarctica.
six continents – answered the starting call for the 20K at the IAAF’s
13th World Championships. The size of the field and its diversity were
remarkable and the IAAF’s higher-ups surely needed to take note. This,
truly, was an event for the whole planet. Or at least until they start
training racewalkers on the seventh continent – Antarctica.
Anytime the International Olympic Committee
starts tinkering with the program – and some rumors have the IOC asking
the IAAF to “sacrifice” one of its three racewalks, so that a cross
country run (over snow, presumably) might be added to the Winter Games –
walking’s adherents can point to their event’s great-and-growing
globalism.
starts tinkering with the program – and some rumors have the IOC asking
the IAAF to “sacrifice” one of its three racewalks, so that a cross
country run (over snow, presumably) might be added to the Winter Games –
walking’s adherents can point to their event’s great-and-growing
globalism.
And all but three of them (who were red-paddle
DQd to the sidelines) met the approval of the judges’ scrutinous eyes.
Four DNFed in the steamy conditions.
DQd to the sidelines) met the approval of the judges’ scrutinous eyes.
Four DNFed in the steamy conditions.
With everything on the line, the remakable Olga
Kaniskina gave it everything she had. With a stunning negative-split
performance, she literally walked away from all pursuers to solidify
her spot as probably the best female walker ever. It took her 1:29:42 –
to win her third consecutive World Championship gold and, with the 2008
Beijing Olympic gold, her fourth straight “major.”
The time was excellent in the conditions – but
not world record-threatening, (Teammate Vera Sokolova had done a WR
1:25:08 back in February but was just 11th in this one in 1:32:13.)
not world record-threatening, (Teammate Vera Sokolova had done a WR
1:25:08 back in February but was just 11th in this one in 1:32:13.)
“I have done better than that (1:25:08).”
Kaniskina reminded, “but conditions were not proper” (meaning too few
international judges.)
Kaniskina reminded, “but conditions were not proper” (meaning too few
international judges.)
“Certainly I know I can go much faster than I did today. . Today was not the day for records. Today was a day for medals.”
The star pupil of Coach Viktor Chegin at the
Mordovian Academy of Racewalking, she had more than enough to outwalk
China’s Hang Liu (second in 1:30 flat), who in turn had caught Russia’s
Anisya Kiryapkina (1:30:13) on the final loop.
Mordovian Academy of Racewalking, she had more than enough to outwalk
China’s Hang Liu (second in 1:30 flat), who in turn had caught Russia’s
Anisya Kiryapkina (1:30:13) on the final loop.
Elisa Rigaudo of Italy walked strongly for
fourth in 1:30:44, with China’s Shenjie Qieyang (1:31:14) and Portugal
super-vet Susana Feitor (1:31:26) next across.
fourth in 1:30:44, with China’s Shenjie Qieyang (1:31:14) and Portugal
super-vet Susana Feitor (1:31:26) next across.
Feitor surely is a walker’s walker. This was her
11th World Championships – and that puts her number one on the all-time
list. No athlete – of whatever event – had ever competed in 11
Worlds. She’s walked in every edition since Tokyo in 1991, with a best
of third in 2005.
11th World Championships – and that puts her number one on the all-time
list. No athlete – of whatever event – had ever competed in 11
Worlds. She’s walked in every edition since Tokyo in 1991, with a best
of third in 2005.
Still just 36, she certainly has no plans to call it a career, either.
“I love this sport, and I love this event,” she
gushed. “It has meant the world to me. It keeps me fit, it keeps me
going, and it keeps me traveling around the world to meet my friends.”
gushed. “It has meant the world to me. It keeps me fit, it keeps me
going, and it keeps me traveling around the world to meet my friends.”
Once again. a giant pack stayed together for
nearly half the race, until the stars started the inevitable separation
process and finally the superstars took off on their own.
Maria Michta, USA, 2011 WC 20km, photo by PhotoRun.net
nearly half the race, until the stars started the inevitable separation
process and finally the superstars took off on their own.
Maria Michta, USA, 2011 WC 20km, photo by PhotoRun.net“Carrying the flag” for next year’s “home
team” was Great Briton Jo Jackson, 23rd in 1:35:32. Lone USA delegate
Maria Michta, the C.W. Post College alumna who is a doctoral candidate
in microbiology in New York City, placed 30th in 1:38:54 in the biggest
race of her life. Canada’s Rachel Lavallee Seaman, wife of two-time USA
Olympian Tim Seaman, was 37th in 1:43:41.
team” was Great Briton Jo Jackson, 23rd in 1:35:32. Lone USA delegate
Maria Michta, the C.W. Post College alumna who is a doctoral candidate
in microbiology in New York City, placed 30th in 1:38:54 in the biggest
race of her life. Canada’s Rachel Lavallee Seaman, wife of two-time USA
Olympian Tim Seaman, was 37th in 1:43:41.
The men’s 50-kilometer race Saturday morning
completes the three-race Worlds racewalking program. Twenty-five center
city laps. The longest, toughest event at the Championships. Yes,
nearly five miles longer than the marathon.
completes the three-race Worlds racewalking program. Twenty-five center
city laps. The longest, toughest event at the Championships. Yes,
nearly five miles longer than the marathon.
Hang Lui, Olga Kaniskina, Anisya Kiryapkina, silver, gold, bronze, 2011 WC 20km Walk, photo by PhotoRun.net
