Chen Ding


Chen Ding is a Chinese racewalker who won a gold medal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. He finished the race in 1:18:46, a new Olympic record. He also won a gold medal in the 2013 World Championships in Athletics after the original gold medalist was disqualified for doping.

Career

2012 London Olympics

In the 2012 London Games, Chen became the first Chinese male athlete ever to win an Olympic gold medal in 20 km racewalk event. He is also the second Chinese male athlete to win a gold medal in any athletic event of the Olympics, after Liu Xiang's gold in 110 m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Chen finished the race in 1:18:46 and established a new Olympic record. He achieved this feat one day before his birthday and considered it as a "wonderful gift". His teammates Wang Zhen and Cai Zelin finished third and fourth, with Guatemala's Erick Barrondo in second.