World Race Walking Cup: Flash Interview with the Champions

Francisco Fernandez, men’s 20km race champion:

“It’s a very happy day for me, I have won the second World Cup. The Russian team is traditionally strong, especially on their own land. It took me much effort to beat them. I had a young opponent, and I was even a bit scared during the distance, fortunately, everything settled… Surely, that’s a very important competition, but at the Olympic Games in Beijing it’s going to be much more difficult. It’s going to be quite a different level, different oppenents, different climate…” .

Valeriy Borchin, the silver medalist for the men’s 20km:

“It was very difficult to fight with such a titled rival as Fernandez. His experience is definetely his advantage over me. Unfortunately, I received two warnings and realized that in case I made a move, I could most probable be the third. And after the last turn when Fernandez took the lead I was thinking only about reaching the finish line.”

Eder Sanchez, the bronze medalist for the men’s 20km:

“It’s the second time I take part in the World Cup and I’m very happy to have managed to acsend the pedestal. I felt quite nervous to compete with such strong rivals. For it was a test before the Olympics.”