Walking: Barrett follows giant's footsteps

Craig Barrett admits there is a "spiritual connection" between him and the Melbourne roads he will heel and toe his way around for 50km this morning.

Barrett has been reminded over the years that it was in Melbourne in 1956 that a countryman, a then-unknown Norman Read, walked his way into Olympic history with his shock victory.

"I've always known about Norman's win," said Barrett before the race in which he will be joined on the start line by New Zealand teammate Tony Sargisson.

"I remember being at a training camp back in 1993 when he spoke to us, telling us about his win in 1956 and then saying it was our turn."

That time has come for Barrett.

He knows he will be up against it when he goes stride for stride with defending champion Nathan Deakes of Australia, who is also attempting to complete the 20km-50km double he pulled off four years ago.

"People in the know always talk about the 1956 Olympics and the part it has played in our sport," said Barrett, who is also reminded constantly of his unfortunate collapse in sight of victory in this race eight years ago in Kuala Lumpur.

The footage of Barrett's collapse when in sight of the gold medal remains some of the most enduring in Games history.

"I like to think I atoned for that four years ago when I finished second," said Barrett. "It was a case of the mind keeping going after the body had switched off."

Barrett, naturally, holds medal hopes but concedes Deakes is "in a different class".

"What he does is out of my control. I have a race plan, and I'll be sticking to it. If I try to race him head to head, he would spit me out."

Barrett has run, not walked, into disqualification problems in some recent racing.

But he should take some heart from a published photograph of Australian Jane Saville with both feet clearly off the ground en route to her 20km walking gold.

He does not hold any grudge against officials.

"The judges are there to do a job," said Barrett, who has been working with coach Graham Jones on technical aspects.

"They are there to help you get through. I feel I have prepared well. I am ready."

Around four hours after the field hits the ground, the medals will be decided.

Barrett remains coy on whether this will be his last major competition but admitted it was "very unlikely" he would be around for the next Games in New Delhi in four years' time.

It is, he says, time to return to his architectural studies continuing a degree course he started at Auckland University more than 10 years ago.