Olympics photos: Day 16, women’s race walking

Race walking just doesn’t seem funny anymore, it seems hard. And this race was a great one, at least at the end. Olga Kaniskina from Russia lead the 20 kilometer race the entire way and was on a World Record pace when, with 1 kilometer left to go, her fellow Russian, Elena Lashmanova, stormed past her and took the gold medal AND the World Record.

Team USA’s Maria Michta didn’t do well compared to the rest of the field, but she did run a personal best time and did it with a smile on her face whenever she was near her friends and family in the crowd, which also happened to be near me, so I got a lot of photos of her smiling.

Friends and family of Team USA walker Maria Michta show their support during the women’s Olympic race walk near Buckingham Palace on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Athletes compete in the women’s Olympic race walk in front of Buckingham Palace on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. Elena Lashmanova of Russia, second from left in lead pack, came from behind to take the gold medal with a world record time of 1:25:02. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Olga Kaniskina of the Russian Federation leads the women’s Olympic race walk at the People’s Republic of China’s Hong Liu keeps pace on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. Kaniskina placed second. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Jammy Franco of Guatemala asks the judge if she was given a warning for improper form during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Brigita Virbalyte of Lithuania cools herself off with water during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Maria Michta of the U.S. competes in the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Spain’s Maria Vasco stays ahead of Ana Cabecinha of Portugal during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Maria Michta of the U.S. is all smiles as she spots her friends and family in the crowd during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 inLondon. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Olga Kaniskina of Russia struggles on lap nine of 10 during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. Kaniskina led nearly the entire race until she was overtaken near the finish by fellow Russian Elena Lashmanova. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Elena Lashmanova of Russia and Shenjie Qieyang of China try to catch leader Olga Kaniskina of Russia (not pictured) as the Ukranian coach looks on during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. Lashmanova overtook Kaniskina on the final lap to win the gold medal. Qieyang took the bronze. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Anisya Kirdyapkina of Russia splashes water on her face during the women’s Olympic race walk on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012 in London. (Anthony L. Solis/Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Like always, I had to get to my spot about 2 hours early to get a good spot. Met a nice couple from Yorkshire though and talked about our different culture and politics. Pretty funny to hear a Brit’s take on American politics. And yes, they told me I’d have to deal with The Wave being called the Mexican Wave since that’s what the entire world (except the US) knows it as.