20 kilometres Race Walk, Women

The last two World Championships had been won by Russians, with Olimpiada Ivanova, the world record holder, winning in 2001 and 1996 Olympic champion Yelena Nikolayeva winning in 2003. The defending champion, Wang Liping was also back. Ivanova led the race most of the way, but the walkers toured a two km. loop outside the Olympic Stadium, and home favorite Athanasia Tsoumeleka pulled even with during that loop, and nudged ahead of Ivanova on the stadium track to win by four seconds. Wang finished eighth while Nikolayeva was a well-beaten 17th. The podium was a tearful scene, with Tsoumeleka crying as the home crowd lavished their plaudits on her. Ivanova was calm, but bronze medalist Jane Saville cried openly for her medal, having been disqualified in 2000 when she was leading on the stadium track in front of her Australian fans.