Russia has won Olympic gold and bronze in the women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase in Beijing. Gulnara Galkina-Samitova came first with a new world record while her compatriot Ekaterina Volkova clinched the bronze.
It was the first time this event has appeared at the Olympics and Russia were clear favourites. Galkina-Samitova, Volkova and Tatiana Petrova were current world record holder, world champion and runner-up respectively. Petrova finished fourth, with Kenyan Eunice Jepkorir taking the silver medal. Galkina-Samitova’s triumph is Russia’s seventh gold at these games. Breaking her own world record comes as a welcome boost before her next race in the 5,000 metres.