Korzeniowski brings 20-year career to a close

Pandemonium followed the finish of the Olympic 20 kms walk in the Sydney Olympic stadium four years ago.

Mexican Bernardo Segura, first across the line, was receiving a congratulatory call from his country's president when he was told he had been disqualified.

In the confusion Poland's Robert Korzeniowski discovered he had been elevated from second to first place, giving him the chance to become the first man to win the 20 and 50 kms double.

Korzeniowski duly retained the 50 kms title, another unique achievement, to secure his place as the best race walker in history.

Eight years earlier at his first Olympics, Korzeniowski had fallen foul of the judges when he was disqualified in the stadium at the Barcelona Games while in second place.

Now 36, Korzeniowski will attempt a third 50 kms title at the Athens Games before retiring from one of the most demanding events on the athletics calendar.

In a concession to the passing of the years and the stifling heat of Greece in August, he will not attempt another double.

"I am a man, not a machine," he said. "The heat and humidity in Athens will not be conducive to fast times or successful doubling up over the two distances."

Korzeniowski should know. He won the 50 kms gold at the 1997 world championships in Athens and has added two subsequent world titles in Edmonton in 2001 and in Paris last year.

SATISFYING

Last year's victory was particularly satisfying

However, although performances on the road were not given world record status until January 1 this year, the International Association of Athletics Federations decided to hand over the bonus anyway to Korzeniowski and Ecuador's Jefferson Perez who set a world best in the 20 kms.

"The euphemism 'all-time best result' did more harm than good to the reception of our results by the public," Korzeniowski remarked.

"This category concerned only walkers and marathon runners but, finally, we all are in the land of common sense.

"People expect that the barriers of human endurance will be beaten and the name 'record' does not leave a trace of doubt that this barrier was overcome."

Korzeniowski won his 15th national title in July to celebrate 20 years of competition before heading to the Pyrenees for a month's altitude training.

At his final games, Korzeniowski will be one of 32 athletes vying for a position on the International Olympic Committee's athletes' commission.

"My reason for standing for election is simple," he said. "I have 20 years of experience at the top level of athletics and I'd like to be able to share my experiences as an athlete and Olympian.

"Athletes are the main actors on the Olympic stage, although we express ourselves without words. I think I can make the voice of my fellow athletes, across all events, be heard."