Golovkina claims Russia’s first European gold at 5000m
28.06.2012
An exciting last-lap tussle saw Russia’s Olga Golovkina move from third to first in the last 40m of the 5000m to claim gold in 15:11.70. Second was a fast finishing Lydmila Kovalenko of the Ukraine 0.33 down, while the long-time leader, Sara Moreira of Portugal, had to settle for bronze an agonising 0.02 adrift on the line.
"First, the race didn't go the way I wished," said the winner. "The pace was rather slow. For a long time I couldn't find a proper place.
"On the home straight I felt I could get the second girl and then I managed to take the first. I am very happy, I didn't expect to win."
It was the Portuguese who was expected to figure amongst the medallists who provoked the first significant incident in the race when she false started and the field of 22 was recalled. The Portuguese was shown a yellow card and the race was duly re-started, though there was an anxious moment for Moreira when the track judge fiddled with his cards before producing the most innocuous.
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