After years of battling chemically-aided competitors at major meets, Australian anti-doping crusader Jared Tallent will get the chance to go for gold in what shape as clean walking races at the world championships in Beijing.
The forced retirement this year of disgraced Russian head walking coach Viktor Chegin and a further swag of positive tests by his competitors has changed the face of the discipline.
None of the leading Russian walkers will be on the start-line in Beijing, opening up the possibility of Tallent finally claiming that elusive gold medal.
His best shot is likely to come in his favoured 50km race on August 29, although he and rising Australian star Dane Bird-Smith should also contend in the 20km race on Sunday.
Chris Erickson will round out the strong Australian challenge in both walks.
"Viktor Chegin's walkers have destroyed our event the last 10 years, so to have him not here for the first time, the first championships he won't be at and his athletes won't be at - it is a great feeling for all the athletes," said Tallent.
The Australian remains hopeful that he will finally be awarded the 50km gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics - where he finished second behind convicted drug cheat Sergey Kirdyapkin - before the 2016 Games roll around in Rio.
Getting the chance to stand atop the podium at a world titles would also fulfil a lifelong goal.
"Without those (Russian) guys there it will definitely be the cleanest world championships in a long time," said Tallent.
"I'm really excited, I've been on the podium seven times at Olympics, worlds or World Cups and I have been beaten by an athlete who has later been banned for doping.
"This time it is going to be a clean race.
"But I am very angry, very annoyed, that at so many championships where I have raced my heart out and been really, really happy with how I have performed, only to then find out later the guy who beat me is a doper, he cheated his way to that result."
The 30-year-old can draw strength from his outstanding performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when he medalled in the 20km and 50km races.
"I like events like this where it's hot and humid, it makes it more challenging," said Tallent.
"I made the big breakthrough here seven years ago and it brings back really really good memories.
"It was the best week of my life pretty much - I won two medals and then got married the week after."
Australian head coach Craig Hilliard said it was only the low public profile of walking which prevented Tallent from being considered in the same league as the biggest modern-day names of Australian athletics such as Sally Pearson and Steve Hooker.
"In terms of `rock-stars' I put him right up there," said Hilliard.
"There is no question in terms of what Jared has achieved and is still capable of achieving - he sits right up there in my mind, just in terms of the number of medals he's won and the way he performs whenever it counts.
"He's a phenomenal athlete."
Share
