Australian Deakes claims 50km walk gold

By Nick Mulvenney

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Australia's world record holder Nathan Deakes came through the longest and most grueling contest of the world championships to win gold in the men's 50km walk on Saturday morning.

Drenched in sweat and the contents of the many bottles of water he had poured over his head in an attempt to keep cool, the 30-year-old crossed the line at the Nagai Stadium after three hours, 43 minutes and 53 seconds.

The Commonwealth champion looked on the verge of tears as he approached the finish but just found the energy to salute the crowd with a thumbs up before breaking the tape and burying his head in his hands.

"I will remember forever the feeling when I came into the stadium and it was clear I was the champion," Deakes said. "It was quite emotional.

"It's a great feeling," he added. "Records are to be broken but nobody can take the world champion title away from you."

European champion Yohan Diniz of France was second nearly half a minute behind Deakes in 3:44.22, while a disappointed Italian Alex Schwazer finished in 3:44.38 to win the bronze medal as he did two years ago in Helsinki.

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

"The race was hard with difficult conditions," said Diniz. "I knew I had the potential to go for a fast time really close to the world record but the weather conditions didn't allow it."

The heat and high humidity meant that nobody was going to come near the world mark of 3:35:47 Deakes set in his home city of Geelong last December.

Deakes led the field out of the stadium and onto the streets of Osaka but it was Spaniard Santiago Perez who set the early pace.

China's Yu Chaohong then took over the lead from Perez and stayed out front for the next 20km.

When the Chinese faded, Deakes, Russian Vladimir Kanaykin and local hope Yuki Yamazaki formed a leading group and were later joined by Diniz.

Diniz made a break at 31 kilometers and Deakes was the only man able to stay with him, gradually reining in the Frenchman before himself taking a lead he was never to relinquish.

"I was thinking to go in front a little bit later," Deakes said. "But the Frenchman went early so I overtook him at the 35km mark. The last five km were very tough but I was able to manage."

The conditions took their toll on the competitors with several collapsing after crossing the line. Latvian Ingus Janevics staggered onto the grass after about 30km and was carried away apparently unconscious on a stretcher.

Yamazaki crossed the line fifth but had failed to fully complete the course and was disqualified.