Gender：W
Date of birth: 1987.5.12
Height: 1.59 m
Weight: 46 Kg
Shenzhen native Liu Hong won the race in a time of 1:29:41, placing her fifth on the list of 2007 top performances at the distance (IAAF Race Walking Challenge, Shenzhen). Jiangsu Province’s Bai Yanmin took the silver medal in 1:30:12 and Jiang Jing, the silver medallist from the 2004 women’s race walking World Cup, took bronze. Jiang Qinyan and Shi Na came in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The top five women separated themselves quickly from the pack, with Bai and Jiang leading most of the way. In the last laps Liu Hong quickened her pace to out-step her teammates for the title. Not only was Liu Hong competing in her hometown, but the two-kilometre loop used for both the men’s and women’s races was located in Futian District, her hometown neighbourhood.
“The weather was too hot, so I’m not satisfied with the results even though I won the gold medal,” Liu Hong said. “I’m excited that I won it in Futian District in Shenzhen. It’s the first medal I’ve won in Shenzhen, and many people from the city came out today to support me, so I want to thank them.”
Members of Shenzhen’s Futian District Government, including deputy director Xia Yang, came out to support Liu Hong in her bid.
It was no secret that China’s national race walking team wanted to use the Shenzhen event to give its athletes the chance to compete in a world level event in China in the run-up to the 2008 Olympics.
“It’s a rare chance for (the Chinese women) to compete with the top athletes in the world,” said Luo Chaoyi, director of the Athletics Administration Centre of the State General Administration of Sports. “Our goal is the 2008 Olympic Games. Before the Olympic Games, they should take part in all kinds of worldwide matches, as many as possible. Only then will they understand the difference between themselves and the top athletes in the world.”