Gulnara Galkina-Samitova (1978- ), Russian champion track star and Olympic gold-medallist
Russia’s Gulnara Galkina-Samitova won the women’s 3,000 metre steeplechase in Beijing, beating her own world record, and becoming the first woman to cover this distance in under 9 minutes. The silver went to Eunice Ypkorir from Kenya, who, just in the last stretch, beat another Russian, Yelena Volkova to the finishing line. This is the first time that this event, the 3,000 metre steeplechase, was a part of the Olympic repertoire. “I never expected to set another record, and I’m thrilled with the medal”, Gulnara said after the event. “But, that’s the way it went. We were well-prepared, and that’s why I had a good run. I have another event ahead of me, the 5,000 metres. That’s why I have only one aim at the moment, to have a good rest and get back into shape so that I can do well”.
18 August 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=31271&cid=63&p=18.08.2008
