The 50 kilometer-walk became part of the men’s Olympic track and field program in 1932. Athletes representing the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Britain, the German Democratic Republic, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, the Soviet Union, and Sweden have won the event. Great Britain, Italy, and Poland won the Olympic 50 kilometers walk title 3 times each. Robert Korzeniowski (Poland) won the race three consecutive times from 1996 to 2004. In 2000 he also won the 20 kilometer-walk, to become the only athlete to win both race walking events in the same Olympic Games.
Eight (8) athletes have won more than 1 medal in the event. Robert Korzeniowski (Poland) leads the individual medal count with 3 gold, followed by John Ljunggren (Sweden) with 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Abdon Pamich (Italy) with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Hartwig Gauder (German Democratic Republic) with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Jared Tallent (Australia) with 2 silver, Denis Nizhegorodov (Russia) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Ronald Weigel (Germany/German Democratic Republic) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), and Larry Young (United States) with 2 bronze medals.
Nineteen (19) nations/teams have won medals in the Olympic 50 kilometer-walk. Italy leads the medal count 6 (3 gold, 3 bronze) followed by Great Britain with 5 (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), German Democratic Republic with 5 (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), Russia with 5 (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), and Sweden with 5 (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), the Soviet Union with 4 (1 gold, 2 silver 1 bronze), Poland with 3 gold, Mexico with 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Latvia with 3 (2 silver, 1 bronze), Australia with 2 silver, Switzerland with 2 silver, Spain with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Hungary with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), United States with 2 bronze), Commonwealth of Independent States with 1 gold, Federal Republic of Germany with 1 gold, New Zealand with 1 gold, Czechoslovakia with 1 silver, China with1 bronze, Germany with 1 bronze.
Thirty-two (32) nations/teams have scored (finished in the top 8 positions) in the Olympic 50 kilometer-walk. Italy leads scoring with 74 points, followed by Great Britain (60), Russia (57), Soviet Union (52), Sweden (52), the German Democratic Republic (48), Poland (39), Spain (38), Mexico (35), Australia (30), Germany (24), Latvia (22), Hungary (18), Switzerland (18), the United States (18), Commonwealth of Independent States (15), Federal Republic of Germany (13), China (13), Czechoslovakia (13), Norway (13), New Zealand (10), Finland (9), France (6), Ireland (5), Belarus (4), Czech Republic (4), Canada (3), Romania (3), Japan (2), India (1), Kazakhstan (1), Portugal (1), and Slovakia (1).
From 1956 to 1964, both the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) competed as a single team. From 1968 to 1988, they competed separately, reuniting as a single German team in 1992, after German reunification in 1991.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the former Soviet Socialist Republics, expect for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, competed as the Commonwealth of Independent States, or the “Unified Team” in 1992.
World and Olympic records noted are the records immediately before the final, including marks established in the qualifying rounds.
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, Part IV (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2011);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part I (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part II (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky, The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2012 Edition (London: Aurum Press, 2012)
