OSAKA, Japan — An emotional Nathan Deakes dominated the 50 kilometres race walk on Saturday to add the world title to his glittering list of honours.

The Australian world record holder broke down in tears of joy and relief as he crossed the finish line in three hours 43 minutes and 53 seconds, completing a gruelling race in hot and sunny conditions.

France's Yohan Diniz took silver in 3:44:22 with Italian Alex Schwazer timing 3:44:38 for his second consecutive world bronze medal. Olympic silver medallist Denis Nizhegorodov of Russia finished fourth.

"It's a great feeling, records are to be broken, but nobody can take the world champion title away from you," said an overcome Deakes.

"I will remember forever the feeling when I came into the stadium and it was clear I'm the champion. It was quite emotional. I think it was my 10th 50km, so great jubilation."

Deakes led from 35km to clock his best time this season, although it was outside his 2006 world record of 3:36:04 minutes set in his home city of Geelong, in Australia's Victoria state.

"I had my plan and executed well. I was thinking to go in front a little bit later, but the French guy went so I overtook him at 35km," Deakes said.

"The last five kilometres were very tough, but I was able to manage it. I didn't have any major crisis during the race.

"There's no secret, just hard work and lot of sacrifice. I also have a great team around me."

Diniz, the 2006 European champion, said he would take a long time to recover from the tough event staged at the height of the steamy Japanese summer.

"The race was hard with difficult conditions and the body will need time to recover. I confirmed my previous results. I started cautiously and my strategy paid off," said the Frenchman.

"The gold wasn't out of reach but it wasn't for me today. Nathan Deakes was too strong. I was strong too but not at my top technically."

However, bronze medallist Schwazer regretted his conservative tactics.

"I am very disappointed. Unfortunately my race was not the best one tactically speaking. I started too slow and then I could not catch up with the best," Schwazer said.

"In these conditions, I wanted to be cautious, but now I know that I was too cautious."

The 30-year-old Deakes won both the 20km and 50km walks last year to claim his second Commonwealth double.

He also took 20km bronze at the Athens Olympics, where he was disqualified in the 50km, and is a multiple national champion over both distances.

Deakes was named Australia's male athlete of the year in 2006 after his Commonwealth heroics.

© AFP