Athletics medals in the Paris 2024 Olympics have opened up with the men’s 20km race walk and women’s 20km race walk events. The 29-year-old Ecuadorian Brian Pintado and the 28-year-old Chinese Yang Jiayu won the gold medals in the men’s and women’s events, respectively.
Brian Pintado completed the men’s 20km race walk event at 1:18:55 to secure the gold medal. It was just nine seconds further from the latest Olympic record (Chinese Chen Ding’s 1:18:46). He became the first Ecuadorian gold medalist in the Summer Olympics athletes event since Jefferson Perez’s gold medal in the men’s 20km race walk event at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.
On the other hand, Yang Jiayu clocked at 1:25:54 to claim the gold medal in the women’s 20km race walk event. The world record holder was also not far away from the Olympic record (Chinese Qieyang Shijie’s 1:25:16). It was the fourth Chinese gold medal in the women’s 20km race walk event in the history of the Summer Olympics.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Brian Pintado shined in a tight Men's 20km race walk event finish
Although Pintado had a slower start, he slowly gained momentum and finished the race much more comfortably. It was a tight battle in the end for the next four performers. Brazilian Caio Bonfim (1:19:09) and Spanish Alvaro Martin (1:19:11), the reigning World Champion, ended the race with the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The defending champion, Italian Massimo Stano (1:19:12), missed out on the podium finish just for a second late finish. Canadian Evan Dunfee (1:19:16) also managed a tight finish in the fifth position.
Among the three Indians, Akshdeep Singh couldn’t finish the race, while Vikash Singh (1:22:36) and Paramjeet Singh Bisht (1:23:48) finished in the 30th and 37th places, respectively.
Paris 2024 Olympics: Yang Jiayu was the best in the women's 20km race walk event
Meanwhile, Yang Jiayu dominated most of the women’s 20km race walk event. Spanish Maria Perez (1:26:19) and Australian Jemina Montag (1:26:25) finished the race with the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Montag set up the new Area Record (a continental record).
Although Colombian racer Lorena Arenas set a new national record by finishing the race in 1:27:03, she missed out on the podium by finishing in fourth place. Mexican Alegna Gonzalez (1:27:14) ended the race in fifth place.
The defending champion, Italian Antonella Palmisano, ended the race after 13km as she couldn’t finish the race.
Priyanka Goswami was the only Indian racer in the women’s 20km race walk event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She finished in 41st place after clocking 1:39:55.
