Olympic clash in Podebrady

The 18^th IAAF World Race Walking Cup which starts on Saturday, 19 April in Podebrady will be the scene of a closely fought battle in the 20km men’s event. The race will see the participation of the two Olympic walking champions of Atlanta - Jefferson Pérez of Ecuador, winner of the 20km race and Robert Korzeniowski of Poland, winner of the 50km - and also of the silver medallists in these events: Ilya Markov (RUS) and Mikhail Shchennikov (RUS). Shchennikov is one of the most powerful, elegant and talented walkers of all time. But they will not be the only ones contesting the victory and the $20,0000 first prize: current world champion Michele Didoni (ITA), Bernard Segura (MEX) 20km bronze medallist in Atlanta, Valentin Massana (ESP) 50km bronze in Atlanta and ex-Olympic champion Daniel Plaza (ESP) are all top class athletes and will be major contenders for gold in this event.

The success of Jefferson Pérez last year was hailed as a sign of the universal nature of athletics more than as a surprise victory. For the first time in the history of the sport and of the Games, Ecuador won Olympic Gold, thanks to a 22 year old champion, born and raised at 2,500m altitude in Cuenca who used to train and raise his oxygen capacity by going up to Guayaquil, at 4,000m altitude. Pérez was not, on the other hand, a real surprise, he won bronze in the 10km race in the World Junior Championships at 16; at 18 he made his Olympic debut in Barcelona, finishing 33^rd.

Following his victory, Pérez did not let his new found celebrity disturb his rigorous training programme: his victory in the 20km race in Mexico City on 15 March is proof enough that he is on top form. What effect the climactic changes will have on him remains to be seen. Whereas in Atlanta the big problem was humidity, in Podebrady it is cold and is snowing as we write this preview!

The cold could well advantage the athletes of eastern Europe, such as the Russians Vladimir Andreyev, Rishat Shafikov and Andrey Markov, who currently have the best performances this season. But Olympic champion Robert Korzeniowski is also in great shape: 1:19:43 in the 20km in the Finnish trials in Turku 4:03 ahead of Valentin Kononen (FIN) 50km world champion in Gothenburg.

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All of the Olympic race walking medallists will be competing in Podebrady, but the battle to watch will be between Perez and Korzeniowski. Perez might have needed holding up after he had crossed the line in Atlanta, but nothing will hold him back in Podebrady, he's in his best shape ever!