Sunday August 12, 2012
ASLI Cakir Alptekin led a shock 1-2 for Turkey when she won the women’s Olympic 1,500m on Friday in 4:10.23, handing her country a first-ever gold medal in track and field.
European champion Alptekin, who served a two-year doping ban from 2004-2006, kicked for home and held her nerve for gold ahead of fast-finishing team-mate Gamze Bulut.
Bulut, who also took European silver behind Alptekin in Helsinki and has improved her time in the event by almost 15s this season, took silver in 4:10.40.
Bahrain’s Ethiopian-born import Maryam Jamal claimed bronze a further 0.34s adrift.
The Turkish medal haul doubled the two silvers Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse won in the women’s 5000m and 10,000m in 2008.
Turkey’s two other Olympic track and field medals were bronzes won by Esref Apak in the men’s hammer in 2004 and Ruhi Sarialp in the men’s triple jump in 1948.
“We came here to take the gold and silver medals for this competition,” said Alptekin, who was caught doping after racing in the steeplechase in the world junior championships in 2004.
“We wanted two medals and we got them. It’s like gaining two gold medals. Every athlete dreams of a medal in the Olympic Games. This is the Turkish power.” — AFP