Beijing - Russian Valeriy Borchin got the men`s 20km race walk gold medal at the Beijing Olympics on Saturday.

Russia`s Valeriy Borchin celebrates after winning the men`s 20km walk at the National stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. Borchin took gold with Ecuador`s Jefferson Perez in silver and Australia`s Jared Tallent in bronze. [Agencies]

His archrival Jefferson Perez won the first medal for Ecuador with only a slight disadvantage against Borchin.

Borchin clocked in 1 hour 19 minutes 1 second. World champion Perez finished in 1:19.15, followed by Jared Tallent of Australia, with a result of 1:19.42.

Chinese walker Wang Hao earned his 19th birthday in the National Stadium by finishing fourth at the Olympic Games.

Athens Olympic silver medalist Francisco Fernandez of Spain finished seventh and another Russian favorite Ilya Markov only 17th.

Valeriy Borchin of Russia celebrates after winning the men`s 20km walk of the athletics competition at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 16, 2008. [Agencies]

Valeriy Borchin of Russia checks his time as he walks toward the finish line of the men`s 20km walk of the athletics competition at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 16, 2008. [Agencies]