Athletics Australia – NEWS – Walking in a Silver Line -Aussie Jared Tallent has defeated the world record holder to win silver in the men’s 50km walk.

Aussie Jared Tallent has defeated the world record holder to win silver in the men’s 50km walk.
Not since Raylene Boyle won double silver in 1972 has an Australian track & field athlete won two medals at the same games.

Remarkably, the last time an Aussie male won two medals was in 1906, when Nigel Barker claimed bronze in the 100m and 400m.

Today, Jared Tallent added to his bronze he won in the 20km event on Saturday.

His time of 3:39:27 was also a massive personal best, beating his previous best time of 3:44:45 and what a time to produce it.

“I never thought this would ever happen.

“Coming into the games I knew I was in good shape for the 20km.

“I thought I could maybe get a medal in that (20km) but the 50km, obviously you have to back up from the 20km and really only started to feel good yesterday.

“Today, I just woke up and was on the warm up track and just looking up at the flame and just thought you know, this is what it’s all for, all those years of hard work all comes down to this, so I just thought to have a crack and go with the leaders,” a proud Tallent said.

It was also the first time Australia has won a medal in the long walk event. The previous best result was 5th by Robert Gardiner, way back at Tokyo in 1964.

In contrasting conditions to the pouring rain of yesterday, the Chinese capital produced fine and sunny conditions for this morning's 50km event.

Tallent was in a break away group of four during the middle stages of the race.

Alex Schwarzer (Italy) then made a break away to be the clear leader by 40sec at the 45km mark.

Tallent was walking with world record holder Denis Nizhegorodov (Russian) to battle out for minor medals, before he took off to win the silver comfortably.

”When they got away, I thought ‘oh, not another bronze.’ I was pretty happy when the Chinese athlete dropped off, because I was in the medal positions again.

“The Russian is the world record holder, definitely the best 50km walker there has ever been. He took the world record off Deaksey, so it was great to get one up on him,” Tallent said.

It was only Tallent’s third 50km event and only six days after his bronze medal winning performance in the 20km event. Since then, it’s all been about recovery.

“I was pretty sore the first few days. I did all the right things, cold plunges, had massages, light stretching and ate heaps.

“This is my third 50km and both the others were in Australia,” quoted the 23 year old.

Adam Rutter had been struck down by illness in the lead up to this mornings race. It caught up with him midway through the grueling event and he was forced to withdraw.
Luke Adams walked strongly towards the end, improving on his mid race position of 14th. He made up ground to place 10th overall, his second top ten placing of these games and the 6th highest ever over 50km, by an Australian at the Olympics.

“I felt ok at 20km, I felt ok at 30 and I felt ok at 40 but then at 41, that’s when I really started hitting the wall and then I had nothing really left in the legs for the last 10k, it was really excruciating. I still managed to hold on and not really tire that much, it’s a 6 minute pb so I really can’t complain.”

Adams’ time of 3:47:45 was his best ever and he was all praise for his teammate Tallent.
“Well I just hope the nation appreciates 2 medals from Jared, that’s incredible and we have the World Champion in the 50km and I’m doing my best and the others are too. We are getting some good positions and we have been one of, if not the strongest event group for a number of years now and I hope our federation and our nation appreciates what we do. It’s a very tough event and it’s not a very highly regarded but we work really hard and do the very best we can. Two medals from Jared is an incredible effort.”

It was the 31 year old second Olympics and he was only recently added to the 50km event, following the withdrawal of the injured Nathan Deakes. Naturally, the opportunity to compete in another Olympic event was enticing for the Aussie.
“We all do it for the dream, you know. I was doing athletics from the age of four and dreamed to be competing in the Olympics and maybe one day get a medal in the Olympics so that’s why we do it. You could never be accused of doing it for the money or anything else so it’s our dreams to come here and do the best we can at the Olympics on the world arena.”