2000 Sydney Olympic Games
Womens 20K Walk
Stunning DQ's Propel Wang to Gold
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Women's 20K |
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The first Olympic Women's 20 Kilometer Walk turned the leaders' hopes to ashes as one after another of the three leaders were disqualified for lifting or loss of contact as they headed towards the stadium. Wang Liping of China won the gold with a time of 1:29:05.
The Russian team, expected to perform well, were never a factor in the race. At the 17 kilometer mark, Racewalking International's John MacLachlan reported that the breakaway pack included Australian Jane Saville in the lead, Elisabetta Perrone of Italy next, Liping Wang third, Kjersti Tysse-Plätzer fourth and Erica Alfridi of Italy fifth, with no more than 20 yards between them.
Liu Hongyu of China moved into the lead but then was disqualified. Perrone of Italy took the lead but then was herself disqualified for lifting (failure to keep the one foot on the ground at all times). Perrone, the silver medalist in the 10K walk at the 1996 Olympics, did not take the DQ lightly. After stopping, she re-entered the race and passed Jane Saville to take the lead, only then finally walking off the course.
With a 14-second lead, Saville could sail on into the stadium to a hometown crowd that would erupt in ecstasy. But just before entering the tunnel, she received her third and final flag and was disqualified for loss of contact. The eruption was tears instead of cheers.
And so three women who thought they would be out of the medals took the honors in the first Olympic Women's 20 Kilometer Walk. Of the three medalists, Wang received only one warning - for a bent knee, while the silver and bronze medalists received no warnings at all.
Australian Kerry Saxby-Junna took 7th place, a weak consolation for the hometown crowd. Michelle Rohl was the top USA finisher with a time of 1:34:26 and a 17th place finish. Yueling Chen, gold medalist in the 10K Walk in 1992 now walking for the USA came in 38th. All of the US team performed minutes worse than their times at the Olympic Trials in July.
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Race Reports as it Happened
From the Racewalking Email Group, by Racewalking International.
The Race
Women's 20K Walk (12.4 miles)
Thursday, September 28, 10:45
Course: Road Race
Entry Standard A: 1 hr 36 min.
Results: Wang Liping, China 1:29:05 gold, Kjersti Tysse-Plätzer, Norway 1:29:33 silver, Maria Vasco, Spain 1:30:23 bronze.
World Record: 1:27:19.1 Ailing Xue, China
The 20K is a new distance for the women walkers, previously the 10K Walk was the women's Olympic event.
Official Results - 20 KILOMETRES WALK ROAD - Women - Final
Thursday, September 28, 2000 - 10:45
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Pos |
Athlete |
Country |
Mark |
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1 |
Wang |
Liping |
CHN |
1:29:05 |
|
2 |
Tysse-Plätzer |
Kjersti |
NOR |
1:29:33 |
|
3 |
Vasco |
María |
ESP |
1:30:23 |
|
4 |
Alfridi |
Erica |
ITA |
1:31:25 |
|
5 |
Sanchez |
Guadalupe |
MEX |
1:31:33 |
|
6 |
Cimpean |
Norica |
ROM |
1:31:50 |
|
7 |
Saxby-Junna |
Kerry |
AUS |
1:32:02 |
|
8 |
Gudkova |
Tatyana |
RUS |
1:32:35 |
|
9 |
Misyulya |
Natalya |
BLR |
1:33:08 |
|
10 |
O'Sullivan |
Gillian |
IRL |
1:33:10 |
|
11 |
Papagianni |
Athina |
GRE |
1:33:14 |
|
12 |
Savchuk |
Valentina |
UKR |
1:33:22 |
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13 |
Groza |
Ana Maria |
ROM |
1:33:38 |
|
14 |
Feitor |
Susana |
POR |
1:33:53 |
|
15 |
Yuan |
Yufang |
MAS |
1:34:19 |
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16 |
Saltanovic |
Kristina |
LIT |
1:34:24 |
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17 |
Rohl |
Michelle |
USA |
1:34:26 |
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18 |
Rosza-Urbanik |
Mária |
HUN |
1:34:45 |
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19 |
Gummelt |
Bernd |
GER |
1:34:59 |
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20 |
Granados |
Encarna |
ESP |
1:35:06 |
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21 |
Tolstaya |
Svetlana |
KZK |
1:35:19 |
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22 |
Leksir |
Nora |
FRA |
1:35:29 |
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23 |
Ouali |
Fatiha |
FRA |
1:35:35 |
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24 |
Zozulya |
Vira |
UKR |
1:35:43 |
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25 |
Kim |
Mi-Jung |
KOR |
1:36:09 |
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26 |
Ibañez |
Mara |
MEX |
1:36:17 |
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27 |
Pérez |
Eva |
ESP |
1:36:35 |
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28 |
Tsybulskaya |
Valentina |
BLR |
1:36:44 |
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29 |
Szebenszky |
Anikó |
HUN |
1:36:46 |
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30 |
Dukure |
Jolanta |
LAT |
1:36:54 |
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31 |
Milušauskaité |
Sonata |
LIT |
1:37:14 |
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32 |
Ramazanova-Khmelnitskaya |
Larisa |
BLR |
1:37:39 |
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33 |
Kehler |
Lisa |
GBR |
1:37:47 |
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34 |
Martinez |
Ivis Haydee |
ESA |
1:38:07 |
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35 |
Loughnane |
Olive |
IRL |
1:38:23 |
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36 |
Kokótou |
Hristína |
GRE |
1:38:52 |
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37 |
Liepina |
Anita |
LAT |
1:39:17 |
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38 |
Chen |
Yueling |
USA |
1:39:36 |
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39 |
Sheridan-Paolini |
Lisa |
AUS |
1:40:57 |
|
40 |
Kuznetsova |
Yelena |
KZK |
1:42:45 |
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41 |
Collado |
Natividad Teresita |
GUA |
1:43:28 |
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42 |
Irusta |
Geovana |
BOL |
1:43:34 |
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43 |
Blazeková |
Zuzana |
SVK |
1:44:03 |
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44 |
Lawrence |
Debbi |
USA |
1:47:20 |
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45 |
Boussad |
Bahia |
ALG |
1:52:50 |
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Sidoti |
Annarita |
ITA |
DNF |
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Radtke |
Katarzyna |
POL |
DNF |
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Stankina |
Irina |
RUS |
DNF |
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Isayeva |
Aida |
AZE |
DNF |
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Sazonova |
Maya |
KZK |
DNF |
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Born-Boyde |
Kathrin |
GER |
DNF |
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Polyakova |
Olga |
RUS |
DNF |
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McCaffrey |
Janice |
CAN |
DQ |
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Mendoza |
Maria Graciela |
MEX |
DQ |
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Liu |
Hongyu |
CHN |
DQ |
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Perrone |
Elisabetta |
ITA |
DQ |
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Saville |
Jane |
AUS |
DQ |
Michelle Rohl Rolls on to Third Olympics
An interview with the leading US women's 20K walker - three time Olympian and mother of three, Michelle Rohl.
Yueling Chen Earns US Slot but Blocked by China
China plays the citizenship card to keep their 1992 gold medalist out of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
China Reverses Decision, Grants Waiver for Chen
August 10, 2000: After a personal request by USOC official Bill Hibyl, the Chinese National Olympic Committee decided to allow Yueling Chen to compete for the US at the 2000 Olympic Games.
US Sacramento Olympic Trials July 16
In the Women's 20K Racewalk, Michelle Rohl (1:32:27), Yueling Chen (1:33:39), and Debbie Lawrence (1:33:47) earned places on the US Olympic Team in their race on 7/16. On Site Report is posted on the Racewalking board by Racewalking International.
2000 Summer Olympic Trails
Women's 20,000 Meter Race Walk Results
Sunday 07/16/00
Michelle Rohl led the race throughout, with Yueling Chen on her shoulder until she began to pull away after the 50 minute mark. At the finish Michelle led by over a minute. Debbie Lawrence finished third to also make the team. The temperature was 62F, a cool and pleasant morning.
1. Michelle Rohl 1:32:37
2. Yueling Chen 1:33:39
3. Debbie Lawrence 1:33:47
These top 3 now qualify for the US Olympic Team.
4. Joanne Dow 1:36:15
5. Sara Stephenson 1:37:35
6. Sara Standely 1:38 36
7. Jill Zenner 1:38:54
8. Danielle Kirk 1:40:47
9. Gretchen Fishman 1:41:23
10. Susan Armenta 1:43:15
11. Amber Antonia 1:43:47
12. Cheryl Rellinger 1:44:13
13. Victoria Herazo 1:45:21
14. Bobbi Jo Chapman 1:45:52
15. Deb Iden 1:46:19
16. Molly Lavacek 1:46:41
17. Lisa Sonntag 1:47:22
18. Debbie Benton 1:48:13
19. Ali Bahr 1:49:43
20. Lyn Brubaker 1:50:02
21. Heidi Hauch 1:50:35
22. Samantha Cohen 1:50:49
22. Donna Chamberlain 1:50:58
Profiles of the American women
Olympic Racewalking Guides
Viewer's Guide to Olympic Racewalking
Men's 20K
Men's 50K
Yueling Chen Earns US Slot, Nixed by Chinese
Racewalk Rankings and Records
