Spain’s Maria Perez successfully defended her women’s 20km race walk title on Saturday (20) to complete a historic ‘double double’ at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, after retaining the 35km version on the opening day.
The 29-year-old from Orce finished 12 seconds clear in the Japan National Stadium in a season’s best of 1:25:54, with Mexico’s Alegna Gonzalez taking silver in a North American record of 1:26:06.
“I have been in five World Championships and this is my fourth medal. I am the happiest woman in the world,” said Perez. “I did not come here today to make history in women’s sport. I just came to improve myself and not focus on the time.
“I responded well to the changes in pace. I knew where my limits were. It was not easy, but I managed to have time to celebrate at the end. Last time in Japan (at the Olympics in 2021), I left with a bittersweet taste (because she finished fourth). I am leaving happy now.”
All the drama was in her wake, however, as an exhausted 26-year-old Nanako Fujii claimed Japan’s first world medal in this event after reaching the line for third place a step ahead of the fast-finishing Paula Torres of Ecuador.
Fujii, who had fought tenaciously to remain in contact with the leaders amid packed home support on the 1km looped course, set a national record of 1:26:18, with Torres – bronze medallist in the 35km race – being given the same time, which was a personal best for her.
It was the host country’s second medal following the bronze won by Hayato Katsuki in the men’s 35km race walk.
“I have been waiting for this moment for a while and it finally happened,” said Fujii, who wore a black ribbon during the race.
“Winning the bronze medal in my country feels very special. I am honoured to do it at home. The colder weather today probably helped me. I am wearing the black ribbon in honour of my coach, who passed away last month. I know he is looking after me from above.”
Torres had moved into fourth place during the closing stages on the track, overtaking Peru’s Kimberly Garcia Leon, who won the 20km and 35km double when it was introduced to the World Athletics Championships at the 2022 edition in Oregon.
It was a noble performance from the Peruvian, who has returned to the sport after suffering severe depression following her failure to take a medal at the Paris 2024 Games. She finished in a national record of 1:26:22.
Sixth place went to China’s world record-holder Yang Jiayu, who beat Perez to the Olympic title in Paris last summer. Yang clocked a season’s best of 1:27:16, with Spain’s Antia Chamosa following her home in 1:27:55 and her compatriot Wu Quanming earning eighth place in 1:28:08.
With the race walking distances changing to half marathon and marathon after the Tokyo championships, Perez will thus be the women’s 20km race walk world champion in perpetuity.
After discarding her white cap as she entered the stadium, she pushed her sunglasses up to her brow as she entered the final straight in order to take in the full spectacle.
Having beaten her chest in triumph, she addressed the TV camera with a message for her 34-year-old training partner Antonella Palmisano of Italy, the Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in 2021.
The victorious Spaniard had embraced her friend at the 35km finish line after she followed her home for silver. But on this occasion Palmisano was unable to add a 20km medal to the bronze she earned in 2023 as she dropped out of the race shortly after the halfway mark.
Perez, peerless, had bossed the race from the start in conditions that were far fresher than those which had obtained during the 35km racing, which took place in high humidity.
The defending champion reduced the number of medal contenders with a series of surges, the first of which came between the fifth and sixth kilometre, which created a lead group of 12.
At the 10km mark the group had been reduced to seven, with Perez and Leon going through in 43:37 ahead of Yang, Gonzalez, Fujii, Wu and Torres.
By 15km Perez was pushing on, leading in 1:04:59 along with Gonzalez. Fujii and Leon were 0.01 behind and Wu was dropping away.
One kilometre later the shape of the race had become clearer as Perez began moving clear on 1:09:09, three seconds ahead of Gonzalez and Fujii, with Leon a further three seconds back.
At 18km gold appeared destined for Perez as she led Gonzalez by nine seconds, with Fujii four seconds further back but a full 10 seconds clear of Leon.
The Peruvian rallied in the penultimate kilometre, however, moving to within three seconds of the straining home athlete as the field prepared for the stadium finale.
But Leon could not sustain her challenge in the closing stages.
And Fujii, who collects Winnie the Pooh merchandise, was soon bounding about like Tigger as she registered the full significance of her achievement in an arena full of adoring fans.
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics
AloJapan.com