Didoni makes his forecast
for 20km Walking Winner tomorrow
 Michele Didoni of Italy, the 1995
World Champion at the 20km walk, selected his own
favourites for the "sprint" event of
the 18th IAAF World race Walking Cup
which starts in Podebrady, Czech Republic,
tomorrow with a record number of participating
nations: 48 (12 more than the previous best). The
amiable Milanese walker, speaking during the
official IAAF Press Conference held today said:
"I believe Shchennikov is in terrific shape.
He is a fantastic athlete who I believe is one
step above the rest. Also, the cold weather we
have here will probably help him and the other
East Europeans. Last year’s Olympic 20km
champion Jefferson Perez will be his toughest
rival." Unfortunately, Poland’s Olympic
50km champion Robert Korzeniowski, who had been
entered for the 20km, withdrew because of injury.
 Didoni,
who has just returned from training at altitude
in Mexico, was quietly confident in his own form.
"I had a disappointing performance in
Atlanta and I have had a few problems with
injuries during the winter. But I am happy to be
here and the organisers have done a great job. It
is now up to the athletes to provide an exciting
spectacle for the crowds. It is an attractive
course around a park and, along with my Italian
team mates, I will be doing my best."
The IAAF will be making
competition awards at the IAAF World Race Walking
Cup for the first time. Winners will receive
$20,000, with awards of $10,000, $7,500, $5,000,
$3,500 and $2,500 for the next to place. Didoni
said: "I am very pleased that the IAAF has
made this decision as it gives a very positive
boost to the Walking Movement. As we all know, it
is not so easy to make money as a walker. Now the
walking events can grow in strength. Without this
money I think the future would have been very
hard."
Shchennikov, silver
medallist at 50km in Atlanta, was also very happy
with the new initiative. "I think it is
right that athletes receive awards for all their
hard work. But on the other hand, we should not
really be talking about making money now, we
should wait until the job has been done!"
Shchennikov, who said he planned to contest both
20km and 50km races at the World Championships in
Athens, is the leading figure of a very powerful
Russian squad whose women’s team is
spearheaded by 1995 World Champion and 1996 World
Junior Champion Irina Stankina. But she will be
ably assisted by Olimpiada Ivanova, currently
second in the World List behind Stantina. Russia,
China and Italy, whose best athlete is Elisabetta
Perrone the silver medallist in Gothenburg and
Atlanta, are the top teams in the women’s
10km.
Although the sun is now
shining in Podebrady it remains cold.
Tomorrow’s races are scheduled as follows:
Women’s 10km (117
athletes) 15:00
Men’s 20km (140
athletes) 16:30
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News
Milanese walking star Michele Didoni gave
his forecast for the winner of the 20km men's race
which takes place tomorrow here in Podebrady:
"It's Perez or Korzeniowski". But then,
maybe Michele himself could be in with a fighting
chance - he certainly hasn't thrown in his
walking shoes yet!
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