Yohann Diniz of France successfully defended his European Championships 50-kilometre walk crown yesterday.

Diniz won the men’s event in 3 hours, 40 minutes, 37 seconds to score France’s leading third gold in Barcelona and seventh medal overall.

Diniz celebrated wildly after setting the European season’s fastest time by over nine minutes.

Gregorz Sudol of Germany took silver with a personal best 3:42:24 while Russia’s Sergey Bakulin won bronze after finishing the street race in 3:43:26.

Olympic champion Alex Schwazer - who won silver in the 20-kilometre walk on Tuesday - pulled out near the close with a muscle problem in his right leg. World silver medalist Trond Nymark and two-time world champion Sergey Kirdyapkin also failed to finish.