Sydney Olympics trip Sept. 28th-Oct-2 2000
On September 28th at 6.15am I utilised my discount ticket (one-way fare of $165), to fly from Perth to Sydney. On arrival in Sydney, I caught a bus to the train station, and then a train to my uncle's place. Had a great time there that night watching the Olympics on TV and talking about various things. Saw an interview on TV with Jane Saville from Australia. (She got DQ 200m from winning the gold in the Women's 20km walk, with Kerry Saxby-Junna finishing in 7th)
The next day I caught a train to the Olympic Stadium, and met up with my cousin, and entered the Olympic stadium for the second time (First time was in February) in 2000, but as a spectator this time. Another of my cousins and his wife were there also.
Had a very memorable time cheering on the Australian's in the Men's 50km walk, all of which I have raced against a few times. The race started at 8am with about 2km on the track and then out onto the road course. Was able to get down to the road course during the race. The same format as the 20km I raced in February except more laps of the road course, had a strong feeling of deja-vu. Interesting seeing all the flags from other countries, and chatted with some of the American supporters who were a bit disappointed that Clauson wasnt doing as well as they had hoped.
Deakes and Russell were prominent in the main front bunch for the first hour or so, and Cousins a bit further back. Also saw Jamie Costin from Ireland (who did the Australian Olympic 50km walk trials race in December 1999 in Melbourne which I also did...) in the race. Got a photo of Deakes in the main bunch,
(click below on the centre and right images for a larger version, or scroll down for a larger version of the image on the left.)
This bunch eventually became dominated by the polish legend Korzenowski, one of the Latvians, the Sanchez's from Mexico (Joel Sanchez did the recon? thing in the Aust 20km trials in February), one of the Finnish walkers, one of the Russians and one of the Spanish walkers, and of course the Australian Nathan Deakes who was in the bronze medal spot with about 5-10km to go, but faded a bit to 6th, but still did incredibly well. You can also see Craig Barrett from New Zealand in the black here in the main bunch of this photo, (who collapsed on the course of the 50km 1km away from a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.) but he faded to 18th. Interesting to hear some different languages of the supporters from various countries. Heaps of atmosphere, and was able to see the DQ board. Lots of cops around, even saw some with tracker dogs at one stage. Really enjoyed watching it and seeing the beginnings of the race unfold. The Italians and some others were working together in a group, and eventually passed Cousins, but as the results show, they failed to finish. The forecast was for a 28-30 degrees C day and I suspect the heat, and the slight uphill section of the road course became a very big factor towards the end of the race. Got a good photo of Deakes attacking in the main front bunch.
At 10am I went back to the stadium to watch the qualifying for the Women's Javelin and the 4x100m relays. This was pretty cool too, unfortunately the Australian Women dropped the baton at the first change. Saw Ghana going very in the Men's but their 4th runner injured a hamstring or something like that.
Also saw the 4x400m relay which Australia did well in. The 2 big screens at the stadium kept us updated on the progress of the 50km walk quite well, and allowed me to see the other events at the same time with my cousins. Our seats were near the tunnel entrance, and allowed me to duck out and see the racewalkers coming into the stadium and then get back to my seat as they did their last 100m on the track to thunderous applause in the case of the Australians. The atmosphere in the stadium was really something! Hard to describe. Some of the memorable moments I remember include;
1. Deakes looking a bronze medal chance on the big screen with only 5-10km to go...and then later finishing in a big PB of 3hr 47 in 6th...quite an improvement (especially on a tougher course like this one.) from his deadheat with Russell at the Australian trials in December 1999.
2. Being outside on the big circular "ramp", watching to see who the first walkers to come through the tunnel were.
3. the commentator saying that Korzenowski was the first in olympic history to win the 20km & 50km walk double. (He also won the 50km walk in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, see the photo here...)
4. Russell collapsing on the track at the end and being carried off after the race, (I think they showed him battling muscle cramps??? during the race on the big screen)...still in a very good time of 4hr 2min for 27th, in a courageous effort! (although he has done better times in the past, for example the 3hr 47 in Melbourne in December 1998 for the World Cup Trials...which was also my first 50km walk race....)
5. Cousins finishing in 4hr 10 for 34th in what looked to be a another great effort, rounding out a top-class Australian presence in this race.
6. Costin finishing in 4hr 24 for 38th.
7. Maddocks of Great Britain finishing 39th in 4hr52, with the big speakers screaming out the old Proclaimers song "I walk 500 miles", and almost everyone standing up and giving him a massive cheer. Apparently it was his 5th olympics.
There was 9 DNF's and 8 DQ's, with 39 finishers.
Got through the crowds ok which seemed to be well managed, and onto a train, and went back to my cousins place had a few games of tennis there which was fun!, and watched more of the olympics...then got a lift with one of my cousins friends back to my uncle's. I caught up on some badly needed sleep that night,
and enjoyed a great Brunch the next day (saturday) with my Uncle and Aunty...watched more olympics on tv, but not for long 'cos I had to catch a train into Sydney central, and then a bus to Adelaide that evening which cost just $77. Left at 1700on Saturday 30th September.
Didnt sleep much on the bus, but it was pretty comfortable as I had two seats to myself for the first 15 hours. On the way there we stopped at Canberra, and I went to this pancake place which was nice.
Got the opportunity to discuss the most important thing in life; the 2 ways to live thing......, and have a good chat with one of the people that got on the bus at Mildura, during the last 4 hours. In Adelaide by 12noon on the Sunday 1st October. Decided to walk the 5-10km from the bus station in the city out to the airport, to save money, which was pretty exhausting with the gear I was carrying. Spent the night at the airport and caught a 7.30am flight back to Perth for $110. Saw a bit of the closing ceremony of the olympics on the TV at the airport. Was very glad to get on that plane, as I was very tired but still happy!!! by that time.
Right to left; Massana (Spain) leads Korzenowski(POL) , Magdziarczyk (POL)?, ???, Barrett (NZ)? and one of the speedy Mexicans about 1hr40 into the race. I am guessing a bit on whos who, based on the country colours...
Australian Nathan Deakes is in 9th spot just next to the traffic light pole...AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!
Full results of 50km walk;
1 Korzeniowski Robert POL 3:42:22
2 Fadejevs Aigars LAT 3:43:40
3 Sánchez Joel MEX 3:44:36 (PB)
4 Massana Valentí ESP 3:46:01
5 Matyukhin Nikolay RUS 3:46:37
6 Deakes Nathan AUS 3:47:29 (PB)
7 Rodriguez Miguel Angel MEX 3:48:12
8 Magdziarczyk Roman POL 3:48:17 (PB)
9 Liepins Modris LAT 3:48:36 (SB)
10 Yang Yongjian CHN 3:48:42 (PB)
11 Rakovic Aleksandar YUG 3:49:16 (SB)
12 García Jesús Angel ESP 3:49:31
13 Wang Yinhang CHN 3:50:19 (PB)
14 Langlois Denis FRA 3:52:56
15 Korepanov Sergey KZK 3:53:30
16 Holuša Miloš CZE 3:53:48 (SB)
17 Tichý Peter SVK 3:54:47
18 Barrett Craig NZL 3:55:53
19 Trautmann Mike GER 3:56:19
20 Malík Štefan SVK 3:56:44 (SB)
21 Trautmann Denis GER 3:58:14
22 Clausen Curt USA 3:58:39
23 Korcok Peter SVK 3:58:46
24 Odriozola Mikel ESP 3:59:50
25 Borisov Valeriy KZK 4:01:11
26 Potemin Vladimir RUS 4:02:38
27 Russell Dion AUS 4:02:50
28 Abshire Brian USA 4:03:05 (SB) (or Philip Dunn?)
29 Caudron Sylvain FRA 4:03:22
30 Zujus Daugvinas LIT 4:06:04
31 Hermann Andrew USA 4:07:18
32 Shelest Alexey UKR 4:07:39
33 Martins Pedro POR 4:08:13
34 Cousins Duane AUS 4:10:43
35 Bruvelis Ugis LAT 4:11:41
36 Imamura Fumio JPN 4:13:28
37 Dudás Gyula HUN 4:17:55
38 Costin Jamie IRL 4:24:22
39 Maddocks Christopher GBR 4:52:12
Spitsyn Valeriy RUS DNF
Stamatopoulos Theodoros GRE DNF
Di Mezza Arturo ITA DNF
Piller René FRA DNF
Lipiec Tomasz POL DNF
Kastanis Spyros GRE DNF
Ihly Robert GER DNF
Perricelli Giovanni ITA DNF
Brugnetti Ivano ITA DNF
Czukor Zoltán HUN DQ
Ciumacenco Fedosei MOL DQ
Ginko Viktor BLR DQ
Kononen Valentin FIN DQ
Huerta Arturo CAN DQ
Sánchez Germán MEX DQ
Berrett Tim CAN DQ
Koike Akihiko JPN DQ
...The Creator Triune rules over all and cares so much that He offers eternal grace and mercy to all who choose to call upon His throne, and trust in His Son, the Christ who paid the penalty of our sin, but lives forever....2 ways to live....