Australian Jared Tallent won the bronze medal in the men's 50km walk at the world athletics championships on Saturday.

Tallent looked likely to finish second, only to be passed by Russian world record holder Denis Nizhegorodov on the last of the 25 laps.

The gold went to Sergey Bakulin, giving Russia a clean sweep of the walking titles in Daegu.

Tallent also won silver in this event and was third in the 20km race at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Australian clocked a time of three hours 43 minutes and 36 seconds in the 50km race, 2:12 behind Bakulin.

Australian Luke Adams was fifth.

The third Australian competitor, 2007 50km world champion Nathan Deakes, led for 18km in the middle stages of the race before being forced to withdraw after straining his right hamstring.

Tallent became Australia's second medallist in Daegu, joining Mitchell Watt, who was second in the men's long jump.