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Olympic Athletics Recaps: 2 August (Day 14)

Men's 50km Walk Final

KORZENIOWSKI Beats Humidity, Tough Course for Walk Gold

Taking over late in the race, Robert KORZENIOWSKI (POL) pulled away to win gold in the 50km walk. Valentin MASSANA (ESP) led until the 27 kilometer mark, when a pack led by KORZENIOWSKI chased him down. The gold medalist held on until the end for his first major championship. Mikhail SHCHENNIKOV (RUS) made a move with 3 kilometers remaining to nab the silver medal, while MASSANA hung on for the bronze.

Final Results: Gold - Robert KORZENIOWSKI (POL), 3:43:30; Silver - Mikhail SHCHENNIKOV (RUS), 3:43:46; Bronze - Valentin MASSANA (ESP), 3:44:19.

"I was surprised there wasn't a real fight at the end. Overall, it was easier than what I had anticipated. I knew from the beginning I was able to win today, and I felt very confident of my form," said KORZENIOWSKI.


Pole Vault Final

Three Vaulters Over Olympic Record, but GALFIONE the Cleanest

It took an Olympic record to medal in the pole vault, with all three placers clearing 5.92 meters, 2 centimeters above the former mark. Jean GALFIONE (FRA), beginning the competition at 5.60 meters, was the cleanest, missing only once at 5.80 meters. That helped him overcome Igor TRANDENKOV (RUS), who had two failures at 5.86 meters, and Andrei TIVONTCHIK (GER), who missed his first attempt at every height.


Final Results: Gold - Jean GALFIONE (FRA), 5.92; Silver - Igor TRANDENKOV (RUS), 5.92; Andrei TIVONTCHIK (GER), 5.92.


Women's Shot Put Final

First Throw Good Enough for Gold

All the medals were set in the first round of throwing, and Astrid KUMBERNUSS (GER) opened best, putting the shot 20.56 meters for the gold. KUMBERNUSS, the world champion, extended her win streak to 37 meets with the throw. Irina KHUDOROZHKINA (RUS) released her bronze medal put on her initial attempt, while silver medalist SUI Xinmei (CHN) improved to 19.88 for the silver on her third.

Final Results: Gold - Astrid KUMBERNUSS (GER), 20.56; Silver - SUI Xinmei (CHN), 19.88; Bronze - Irina KHUDOROZHKINA (RUS), 19.35.

"Before the final I felt that if I could do 20.50 meters with my first try I would not only have the right to have the last try, but also the gold medal," said KUMBERNUSS.


Women's Long Jump Final

First Jump Keys Upset Win for Nigerian

Chioma AJUNWA (NGR), not picked for a long jump medal on anybody's formchart, hit 7.12 meters on her opener to win tonight's competition. AJUNWA left her rivals far back, with Fiona MAY (ITA) trailing at 7.02 meters. Jackie JOYNER-KERSEE (USA) was the best in the second round of jumping, nailing a 7.00 meters leap on her finale to sneak in for the bronze, her sixth Olympic medal.


Final Results: Gold - Chioma AJUNWA (NGR), 7.12; Silver - Fiona MAY (ITA), 7.02; Bronze - Jackie JOYNER-KERSEE (USA), 7.00.

"I didn't train for the long jump, but for the 100 meters. I believe that is where my real talent lies because of my explosive speed," said AJUNWA.


Steeplechase Final

KETER's Water Jump Clearance Does It

By hurdling the final water jump, Joseph KETER (KEN) was able to outrun Moses KIPTANUI (KEN) for the steeplechase gold medal in a fast 8:07.12. KIPTANUI, the world record holder, was over a second back in 8:08.33, while Italy's Alessandro LAMBRUSCHINI broke up the Kenyan pack for third. KETER and KIPTANUI took the pace from the opening gun, with LAMBRUSCHINI moving well over the final two laps to catch a fading Matthew BIRIR (KEN).


Final Results: Gold - Joseph KETER (KEN), 8:07.12; Silver - Moses KIPTANUI (KEN), 8:08.33; Bronze - Alessandro LAMBRUSCHINI (ITA), 8:11.28.

"It was hard for me to run with Moses. But with my finishing power, on the last lap I knew I was going to win it," said KETER.


Women's 10,000m Final

RIBEIRO's Finishing Speed the Difference

After it looked like WANG Junxia (CHN) would run away with her second distance gold of the Olympic Games, Fernanda RIBEIRO (POR) battled back in the final 100 meters to relegate the world record holder to silver. A large pack through a slow first half was whittled to six with two laps to go, when WANG picked it up to reduce it to four. The Chinese runner opened a gap at the 400 meter mark, but RIBEIRO began a drive with just 200 meters left, passing a tiring WANG with less than 50 meters remaining. For WANG, it was her first career defeat at 10,000 meters. RIBEIRO's 31:01.63 was an Olympic record.


Final Results: Gold - Fernanda RIBEIRO (POR), 31:01.63; Silver - WANG Junxia (CHN), 31:02.58; Bronze - Gete WAMI (ETH), 31:06.65.


Men's Javelin Qualifying

World Record Holder Second After First Round

Eight throwers reached the automatic qualifying mark of 83.00 meters to advance to Saturday's men's javelin final. World record holder Jan ZELEZNY (CZE) easily made it, hitting 86.52 meters on his initial throw. Missing from the final will be Gavin LOVEGROVE (NZL) and Harri HAKKARAINEN (FIN), two of the longest in the world this season.


Women's 4 x 100m Relay Qualifying

United States Tops in Qualifying

The top sprint powers produced the top qualifying times in this morning's women's relay heats. The United States, with Carlette GUIDRY, Chryste GAINES, Inger MILLER and Gwen TORRENCE ran a safe 42.49 round to advance. Six of the eight teams that ran the final in Barcelona made it through this morning's qualifying.


Men's 4 x 100m Relay Semifinals

Canada, United States Set Up for Showdown in Short Relay

The top two sprint powers posted the fastest times in advancing to tomorrow's final. Canada easily won heat one of the semifinal, with 100 meters world record holder Donovan BAILEY pulling away on the anchor. The United States, despite controversy over the team lineup, won by more than half a second in heat two. Jamaica was disqualified for a zone violation and will not appear in the final, with France taking its place.


Men's 4 x 400m Relay Semifinals

No Controversy Here, United States is Fast in Prelim

The United States used its backup relay team in the 4 x 400m relay, but still ran less than 3 minutes to become the fastest qualifier for the finals tomorrow. Great Britain, also using its second team, was an easy winner in the opening heat, while Nigeria was kept out of the finals on a disqualification.


Women's 4 x 400m Relay Qualifying

Women's Quarter Heavyweights in Relay Final

With sprint depth an essential in relay qualifying, the major powers easily got through the qualifying round and will appear in tomorrow's climatic final. The United States was fastest in qualifying, but Kim GRAHAM had to run a quick third leg to reel in Jamaica's Charity OPARA. Germany, anchored by Grit BREUER, had an easy time of it in winning heat two.


This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.


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Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Games involved a crew of 2,100 who worked with more than 3,500 performers as well as thousands of athletes who celebrated on the field of Olympic Stadium.