Liu Hong walks her way to China's first gold at Beijing athletics world championships

Liu Hong crosses the finishing line. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Liu Hong claims a first gold medal at China's home world athletics championships after winning the women's 20 kilometer race walk on Friday morning.

It was a first world championship gold for 20km distance world record-holder Liu, having taken bronze in 2009 and 2013 and silver in 2011. "I was under great pressure as we had zero gold medals with just three days left for the championship. I was really looking forward to today's game. I wanted to fulfill my dream of winning a gold medal at world championships as I have already won three medals at previous games," Liu said after winning the gold medal.

"I broke the world record earlier this year, which made me fully prepared, both physically and mentally, to become a champion." she said.

Liu held a lead during the whole course and finished the race with 1:27:45 hours, followed by her compatriot Lu Xiuzhi who have gone step for step together with Liu throughout the race.

"Lu and I are at the highest level in the game. Based on our skills, the winner will be one of us if there's no accident."

Liu set the record in June with a time of 1:24:38 hours at the Gran Premio Cantones de La Coruña, a race-walking challenge event in Spain. 

Both Liu and Lu were given a rapturous applause as they crossed the line in the iconic Bird's Nest, China's national stadium. The pair entered the stadium in conversation and embraced after the line before going on a lap of honor together.

The Chinese duo stretched their lead to 26 seconds at the halfway stage as they begun lapping back markers on the 1km course loop.

Ukraine's Lyudmyla Olyanovska had cut that to 21 seconds after 15km but the deficit was too big and she settled for bronze in 1:28:13.

Italian Eleonora Giorgi had been pushing for the bronze medal before being disqualified over the closing 5km.

Portuguese Ana Cabecinha was fourth and Antonella Palmisano of Italy fifth.