TOTH BIDES HIS TIME TO WIN
SLOVAKIAN TAKES VICTORY IN AN EXCITING RACE FULL OF INCIDENT
PH
50KM WALK
Matej Tóth: made a steady progression while others burned themselves out
MATEJ TÓTH took Slovakia’s first athletics gold in the Olympics after a dramatic 25 laps of the Pontal strip.
The 33-year-old added to his world title from last year as he kept his cool while others posted bids for victory.
Tóth gained the lead with just over 2km to go, crossing the line in 3:50:58 with 18 seconds to spare over Australia’s Jared Tallent. Another eight seconds back, Japan’s Hirooki Arai survived a disqualification scare to take bronze.
With no one wanting to break any records in the heat, Yohann Diniz moved clear after about a kilometre, stretching his lead to 30 seconds at 10km and 1:23 by 20km. As halfway was reached in 1:49:31, the chasing group of eight were 1:50 behind.