Viewer's Guide to Olympic Racewalking Sydney 2000
Races | Rules | 2008 Coverage | GuidesNo Respect?
Update: 2008 Coverage
The 2000 Races
Men's 20K Walk (12.4 miles)
Friday, September 22, 12:50
Course: Road Race
Entry Standard A: 1 hr 23 min.
Results: Korzeniowski 1:18:59 Report
World Record: 1:17:25.6, Bernardo Segura, Mexico
1996 Gold Medal: Jefferson Perez , Ecuador 1:20.07
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: 1:25:18 Tatyana Gudkova, 1999
New distance, previously the 10K Walk was the women's Olympic event.
Mens 50K Walk (31 miles)
Friday, September 29, 8:00
Course: Road Race
Entry Standard A: 4 hr 00 min
Results: Robert Korzeniowski (Poland) gold 3:42.21, Alagars Fadejevs (Latvia) silver 3:43.41. Joel Sanchez (Mexico) bronze 3:44.36.
World Record: Valeriy Spitsyn 3:37.26, 2000
Olympic Record: 3:38.29 Vyach Ivanenko Russia 1988
1996 Gold Medal: Robert Korzeniowski, Poland 3:43:30
The Rules
There are two rules that distinguish racewalking from running or regular walking.
1. Straight Leg Rule: From the time the leading foot hits the ground until it passes under the center of the body, the knee must not be bent. If a judge sees a bent knee, the walker is flashed a paddle showing a bent line, and the walker risks disqualification.
2. Contact Rule: During the period of each step, the advancing foot of the walker must make contact with the ground before the rear foot leaves the ground. This loss of contact must be visible to the naked eye and seen by a judge. A judge shows the walker a paddle with a wavy line on it and the walker risks disqualification.
In running, the runner bends his/her knees with the advancing leg and also has a "flight phase" in each stride where both feet are off the ground at the same time. The two rules of racewalking ensure that the walker is walking rather than running.
USATF Racewalking Rules and Judging
Judges: In road races, depending on the size of the course there should be a minimum of six to a maximum of nine judges including the Chief Judge. In track races, indoors and outdoors, there should be five judges including the Chief Judge.
Cautions: Competitors must be cautioned by any judge when they appear to be about to break one or both of the two rules of racewalking. The judges use a white paddle or disc for signaling cautions during a walking race. Each paddle or disc should have the symbol ~ indicating Loss of Contact on one side and the symbol > indicating Bent Knee on the reverse side to show the reason for the caution. The walker may be cautioned once by a judge for the same offense.
Warnings: Competitors shall be given warnings when they exhibit visible
loss of contact or a bent knee during any part of the competition. Once a judge has decided to propose a disqualification, the judge fills out a red warning card and it is sent to the recorder or Chief Judge as soon as possible. When a competitor receives warning from three different judges, the competitor is disqualified and informed of this disqualification by the Chief Judge. A red paddle or disc is used to signal disqualification during a walking race.
For championships and international trials races, a warning posting board should be used to keep competitors informed about the number of warnings that have been received by the Recorder or Chief Judge for each competitor.
Olympic Racewalking 2000 Sydney
Men's 20K
Men's 50K
Women's 20K
Racewalk Rankings and Records
Articles
Yueling Chen Earns US Slot, Nixed by Chinese
China Reverses Decision, Allow Chen to Walk for US
Michelle Rohl Rolls on to Sydney
