Chinese race walker Wang Hao celebrated his 19th birthday Saturday with a fourth-place finish in the men's 20km race walk at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Russia's Valeriy Borchin took the gold medal, while Ecuador's Jefferson Perez finished second and Australia's Jared Tallent claimed third.
As Wang entered the National Stadium for the last lap of the race, the announcer informed the crowd of nearly 91,000 that it was Wang's birthday, inciting thunderous applause.
"I was very glad that so many people celebrated my birthday," said Wang, "It's sort of a pity that I failed to get a medal, but it is still a happy birthday for me."
Wang crossed the line in one hour 19 min 47 sec, a personal best.
"Competing in the Olympic Games has already been the best birthday present for me," he said "It will encourage me to do better and win more glory for China in the future."
Wang, who took up race walking five years ago, was competing in only his second world-class competition. He finished second in the "Good Luck Beijing" IAAF Athletics Challenge in April.
The pace was moderate for the first half of the race under Beijing's burning sun and nearly a dozen athletes were in contention at the halfway mark.
"I knew from the start that I was walking for a medal, but didn't think I was in contention for the gold," Borchin said.
Perez, a triple world champion, upped the tempo past the 15km mark and tried to shake off his challengers, but 21-year-old Borchin countered with a surge that took him clear.
"On the last lap, I felt the energy and surged ahead," Borchin said.
Defending champion Ivano Brugnetti of Italy came in fifth after leading the pack several times in the second half of the race.
Gold medal winner Borchin brushed off allegations of doping that have plagued his team.
The doping issue surfaced after three Russian walkers, including medal favorite Vladimir Kanaikin, were banned on the eve of the Games for failing doping tests.
World record holder Sergey Morozov also withdrew from the race.
"It is very unfortunate what happened to them and I have heard (the allegations about me) but I don't know what's going on," Borchin told reporters.
Agencies contributed to the story
