Dominic King is cheered across the line at the Olympic Games (From Gazette)

Dominic King is cheered across the line at the Olympic Games

11:10am Sunday 12th August 2012 in Sport

DOMINIC King finished his Olympic Games to the cheers of a patriotic crowd.

Colchester’s 50km race walker finished Saturday’s race in last place but draped in the Union flag and smiling to the crowds.

King completed the event in 51st place, the last of the athletes who managed to finish the course, in a time of four hours 15 minutes and five seconds.

He was 39 minutes behind Russian winner Sergey Kirdyapkin who set a new Olympic record in three hours 35 minutes 59 seconds.

But that didn’t matter to the crowds as King, Britain’s only athlete in the event, high-fived his way to the finish on the last 2km lap.

The 29-year-old said: “I didn't realise how fast I was walking so when I started to high-five the first lot of people on the lap my arm became pretty tired after about 50m.

“I realised I had another 1,950m to go, so not everyone got a high-five.”

The British number one added: “I fully appreciate the support that came out here today and not just supporting myself – supporting the field.

“It’s a gruelling event and that can take you and lift you that extra two or three minutes up the road.”