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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Bai marks golden double for China
Source: Agencies |
August 24, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BAI Xue finally put China on the marathon map, and in the gold medal standings at the world championships yesterday.
On the closing day of the competition, Bai shook off Yoshimi Ozaki of Japan in the latter stages of a sun-drenched women's marathon through the heart of the German capital to clinch China's first-ever major title in the event.
And the world's most populous country finally had a title to celebrate as Bai waved the red flag with five yellow stars around, with a few Chinese fans dancing wildly under the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
On a sunny, warm day, the 20-year-old Bai broke away from Ozaki in the last 1.2 kilometers to cross the line at the Brandenburg Gate in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 15 seconds.
"This was my first time to take part in the world championships and only my second time to take part in an international marathon," the Chinese runner said. "When I came here I did not think at all that I could win the gold medal. My only aim was to show a good performance."
Ozaki took silver in 2:25.25, and Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia picked up the bronze in 2:25.32.
China's previous best finish in the marathon was Zhou Chunxiu's silver at the 2007 edition.
While the Chinese fans were jubilant, Jamaica had already done all the celebrating it could. With Usain Bolt's third gold coming in the 4x100 relay late on Saturday, the Caribbean island nation of 2.8 million won its seventh gold medal.
Jamaica entered yesterday's medal-packed day in a tie with the United States for gold, but the Americans were expected to run away with the medals table as they are favorites in both the 4x400 relay races.
Bolt is already the runaway leader with three golds, but there are plenty of doubles on the line.
Kenenisa Bekele is looking for his second straight long-distance double when he seeks to add the 5,000 meters to the 10,000, a feat he accomplished at the Beijing Olympics last year.
Bahrain's Kenyan-born Yusuf Saad Kamel also was going for a double in the 800. The 1,500 champion saw favorite Abubaker Kaki of Sudan crash out in the heats and can expect his toughest competition from 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia.
In the relays, both 400 champion LaShawn Merritt and 200 champion Allyson Felix can add a second title if their US 4x400 teams perform as expected.
Also on Saturday, Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland set a world record of 77.96 meters to win the hammer throw and earn a US$160,000 check for winning a title with a record. She erased Russian Tatyana Lysenko's three-year-old mark of 77.80.
In the men's long jump, American Dwight Phillips jumped 8.54 meters on his second attempt to win. His main rival, Olympic champion Irving Saladino of Panama, was eliminated with three no-jumps.
On the closing day of the competition, Bai shook off Yoshimi Ozaki of Japan in the latter stages of a sun-drenched women's marathon through the heart of the German capital to clinch China's first-ever major title in the event.
And the world's most populous country finally had a title to celebrate as Bai waved the red flag with five yellow stars around, with a few Chinese fans dancing wildly under the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
On a sunny, warm day, the 20-year-old Bai broke away from Ozaki in the last 1.2 kilometers to cross the line at the Brandenburg Gate in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 15 seconds.
"This was my first time to take part in the world championships and only my second time to take part in an international marathon," the Chinese runner said. "When I came here I did not think at all that I could win the gold medal. My only aim was to show a good performance."
Ozaki took silver in 2:25.25, and Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia picked up the bronze in 2:25.32.
China's previous best finish in the marathon was Zhou Chunxiu's silver at the 2007 edition.
While the Chinese fans were jubilant, Jamaica had already done all the celebrating it could. With Usain Bolt's third gold coming in the 4x100 relay late on Saturday, the Caribbean island nation of 2.8 million won its seventh gold medal.
Jamaica entered yesterday's medal-packed day in a tie with the United States for gold, but the Americans were expected to run away with the medals table as they are favorites in both the 4x400 relay races.
Bolt is already the runaway leader with three golds, but there are plenty of doubles on the line.
Kenenisa Bekele is looking for his second straight long-distance double when he seeks to add the 5,000 meters to the 10,000, a feat he accomplished at the Beijing Olympics last year.
Bahrain's Kenyan-born Yusuf Saad Kamel also was going for a double in the 800. The 1,500 champion saw favorite Abubaker Kaki of Sudan crash out in the heats and can expect his toughest competition from 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia.
In the relays, both 400 champion LaShawn Merritt and 200 champion Allyson Felix can add a second title if their US 4x400 teams perform as expected.
Also on Saturday, Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland set a world record of 77.96 meters to win the hammer throw and earn a US$160,000 check for winning a title with a record. She erased Russian Tatyana Lysenko's three-year-old mark of 77.80.
In the men's long jump, American Dwight Phillips jumped 8.54 meters on his second attempt to win. His main rival, Olympic champion Irving Saladino of Panama, was eliminated with three no-jumps.
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