World number one Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) finally added a World Championship gold medal to her long list of accolades, after leading almost the entire race to win in a Championship Record time of 1:26:52.

A former Olympic champion in the 10km walk, Nikolayeva joined the leading pack at the six minute mark after the defending champion Olimpiada Ivanova, also of Russia, left the course clutching her right hamstring.  At the half way mark, a twenty second lead was etablished by Nikolayeva, who's pace was too much for Elisabetta Perrone (ITA), who failed to finish, and Ireland's Gillian O'Sullivan. 

O'Sullivan, the fourth fastest walker this year was always competitive, taking the silver medal in a time of 1:27:34.

The bronze medal was won by Belarussian Valentina Tsybulskaya in a National Record time of 1:28:10, making her a medallist at the past three World Championships.

It was a race full of impressive achievements, with fourth place Claudia Stef (ROM) setting a personal best of 1:29:09, the Greek National Record being broken by Athanasia Tsoumeleka (1:29:34), who finished seventh, and another National Record falling to Germany's Melanie Seeger (1:29:44).

China's promising teenager Hongjuan Song, a solid performer this year, was disqualified mid way through the race. She will need more experience in race walking if she is to feature prominently in Athens next year.