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Russian teenager Stanislav Yemelyanov took the first gold medal of the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona with victory in the men's 20km walk.

Yemelyanov finished in a time of 1:20.10 with Italy's Alex Schwazer, Olympic champion in the 50-km walk, 28 seconds behind. Portugal's Joao Vieira finished third to repeat his bronze medal of four years ago.

"I tried to catch up with Yemelyanov but he was in top shape today. Now I hope to recover in time for the 50km walk," said Schwazer, who is also entered in Friday's longer event.

The 19-year-old Yemelyanov, in his first year competing as a senior, was ahead at the eight-kilometre mark.

He raised his arms aloft as he crossed the line after 20 laps on Barcelona's streets and was immediately handed a Russian flag, which he draped around his shoulders.

• Yemelyanov wins gold in 20km walk

Men's 20km walk results:

1. Stanislav Emelyanov (Russia) 1:20:10

2. Alex Schwazer (Italy) 1:20:38

3. Joao Vieira (Portugal) 1:20:49

4. Robert Heffernan (Ireland) 1:21:00

5. Giorgio Rubino (Italy) 1:22:12

6. Andrey Krivov (Russia) 1:22:20

7. Matej Toth (Slovakia) 1:22:20

8. Jakub Jelonek (Poland) 1:22:24

9. Juan Manuel Molina (Spain) 1:22:35

10. Rafal Augustyn (Poland) 1:22:40

11. Andrey Kovenko (Ukraine) 1:22:43

12. Ruslan Dmytrenko (Ukraine) 1:22:45

13. Herve Davaux (France) 1:24:12

14. Miguel angel Lopez (Spain) 1:24:28

15. Silviu Casandra (Romania) 1:24:51

16. Maik Berger (Germany) 1:25:01

17. Anton Kucmin (Slovakia) 1:25:12

18. Jose Ignacio Diaz (Spain) 1:25:36

19. Dawid Tomala (Poland) 1:25:50

20. Jamie Costin (Ireland) 1:26:05

21. Sergio Vieira (Portugal) 1:27:07

22. Ivan Losyev (Ukraine) 1:27:12

23. Arnis Rumbenieks (Latvia) 1:30:50

Ato Ibanez (Sweden) DSQ

Dzianis Simanovich (Belarus) DSQ

Ivano Brugnetti (Italy) DNF

Mate Helebrandt (Hungary) DNF

European Athletics Championships (UK/Asia/Australia)

Tuesday 7am & 5.45pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Wednesday 7am & 5pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Thursday 9am & 4.30pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Friday 6.30am & 5.15pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Saturday 9am & 3.15pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Sunday 9am & 6pm LIVE on British Eurosport & Eurosport HD

Reuters