Poland's Robert Korzeniowski retained his 50km walk title at the Olympic Games on Friday.

The 36-year-old, who swept both walk gold medals in the Sydney Olympics four years ago, clocked three hours 38 minutes and 46 seconds for the title.

Russia's Denis Nizhegorodov won the silver in 3:42:50 and his compatriot Aleksey Voyevodin took the bronze in 3:43:34.

China's Yu Chaohong finished fourth in 3:43:45, which was his country's best result in the track and field at the Olympics.

Korzeniowski said: "It was part of my strategy to get a quick start and walk faster when it was still colder outside. Then I just tried to maintain the pace and control my lead. For two to three laps I increased my lead, so that my chasers would lose hope of catching me, then I just controlled it again."

He added: "I love this sport and I love this life. I feel I have a given talent and if I don't use it I will lose it. I am not a loser, I am a winner."

But the Polish great said he will have retired in the Beijing Olympics four years later.

"I will be a very relaxed spectator," he said.

Voyevodin, the bronze winner, said he was very satisfied with the result.

"I am very satisfied with the time, my walking and the medal. This is one of the highlights of my career. It is good for the Russian team to get two medals."

Yu said he was disappointed not to win a medal.

"I didn't walk well, although I tried my best. I couldn't walk like I have done in training. I feel ashamed losing the medal, but I thank all the Chinese who have supported me," he said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2004)