(dpa) - Valeriy Borchin won the men's 20 kilometres race walk gold medal for Russia at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday, holding off the three-time reigning world champion Jefferson Perez of Ecuador.
Borchin, 21, shook off Perez in the closing stages on a course in Beijing's sunny Olympic Green to win in 1 hour 19 minutes 1 second.
Perez, who besides his world titles from 1993, 1995 and 1997 also won Olympic gold in 1996, trailed by 14 seconds in 1:19:15 hours.
Australia's Jared Tallent grabbed bronze in 1:19.42, leaving only fourth place for local hero Wang Hao who turned 19 on the day. The 2004 gold medallist Ivano Brugnetti of Italy had to settle for fifth.
There has been controversy around Russia's walkers as two of them were last week caught using the blood booster EPO. And world record holder Sergei Morozov was a notable absentee on Saturday.
The day's other three finals were scheduled for the evening session, with the blue riband men's 100m final the highlight. The others were the women's shot put and the completion of the heptathlon.
World champion Valerie Vili of New Zealand dominated the shot qualifying round with 19.73, and the 2005 worlds winner Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus also made it to the evening decider.
Kenya took a first step towards another 3,000m steeplechase sweep when Ezekiel Kemboi ( 2004 Olympic champion and three-time runner-up at the worlds) Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (2007 world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist), and Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong made the final.
Other heats and qualifying rounds included the women's 100m, 400m and pole vault as well as the men's discus. The heptathlon was to be completed over the day with the long-jump, javelin and 800m.