Russian Olga Kaniskina won gold in the women’s 20-kilometer walk for a record third consecutive time at the athletics world championships in South Korea.
Draped in her country’s flag, the 26 year old was beaming after finishing in just under 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The reigning European and Olympic champion broke clear of the pack two-thirds into the race and kept her tempo right through the finish, beating out Liu Hong of China and teammate Anisya Kirdyapkina.
Yet even now, with a hat trick of world championships, Kaniskina says she never lacks motivation.
Wednesday’s win pushed Russia to the top of the overall medal standings at the championships.