Mariya Savinova of Russia takes gold in the women’s 800-meter final
Mariya Savinova of Russia celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win gold in the Women’s 800m Final on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England.
Mariya Savinova won a gold medal for Russia in the women's 800-meter final.
Savinova, the reigning world champion, finished the race in a blistering time of 1:56.19, the Daily Mail reported.
She made her break from the pace in the race's final 300 meter, pulling ahead of American Alysia Johnson Montano to gain a big lead in the final stretch, ABC News reported.
Caster Semenya from South Africa took the silver medal, and Ekaterina Poistogova, also of Russia, placed third.
Kenya’s Pamela Jelimo, who won the 800-meter at the 2008 Olympics, sped up too early, and lost her lead, RIA Novosti reported.
Though Savinova's victory was impressive (she finished over a second ahead of Semenya) the world record of 1.53.28, set by 29-year-old Czechoslovakian runner Jarmila Kratochvilova, remained intact, according to RIA Novosti.
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