Current:Home > InvestOlympic track & field begins with 20km race walk. Why event is difficult? -Wealth Empowerment Academy
Olympic track & field begins with 20km race walk. Why event is difficult?
View
Date:2025-04-18 18:34:08
PARIS – The official start of the Olympic track and field competition began Thursday with the men’s and women’s 20km race walk.
Stade de France is the home for track and field during the Paris Olympics, but the race walk was held at the Trocadéro adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, which offered a spectacular view for spectators and athletes.
The men’s competition was delayed 30 minutes to 2 a.m. ET due to rainy conditions. The women’s competition started at 3:50 a.m. ET.
On the men’s side, Ecuador’s Brian Daniel Pintado won the gold easily in 1:18:55 and celebrated as he crossed the finish line. Caio Bonfim of Brazil came in second at 1:19:09 and Spain’s Álvaro Martín finished third with a time of 1:19:11.
"I have competed in three Olympic Games, and now I'm an Olympic champion. It's a dream come true," Pintado said. "It was insane. In the last few meters, I realized I was completely alone, and seeing the finish line I just kept thinking, I'm the Olympic champion, it's me."
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
For the women, China’s Yang Jiayu won the competition with a winning time of 1:25:54. Spain’s Maria Perez took the silver medal, posting a time of 1:26:19 and Australia’s Jemima Montag came in third at 1:26:25.
What makes race walk difficult?
The 20km race walk is a little over 12.4 miles, so the speed walkers aren’t walking a short distance. But the race is also very technical.
In race walking, athletes must have one foot in contact with the ground at all times, which has to be visible to the human eye. Officials are present at the competition to ensure the rule is enforced. If there is no visible contact, it is called lifting and an athlete will be penalized.
In addition, an athlete’s knee of their advanced leg must not bend and the leg must straighten as the body passes over it. A penalty can be enforced if an athlete bends his knee.
Race walk judges carry paddles with symbols for "loss of contact" and "bent knee."
Did Team USA have any 20km race walk athletes at Paris Olympics?
Team USA didn’t have a single 20km race walk athlete (male of female) compete at the Paris Olympics. In fact, the U.S. has never won an Olympic medal in the 20km race walk.
Larry Young was the last U.S. athlete to win an Olympic medal in any type of race walk event. Young placed third in the 50km race walk at both the 1968 and 1972 Games. The 50km race walk was dropped as an Olympic sport after the Tokyo Olympics.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Have Fun in the Sun With Porsha Williams’ Amazon Summer Essentials
- Texas woman's arm healing after hawk-snake attack, but the nightmares linger
- Houston energy firm to produce clean hydrogen with natural gas at West Virginia facility
- Average rate on 30
- A viral video of a swarm of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico prompts question: Is this normal? Here's what an expert says.
- The CDC works to overhaul lab operations after COVID test flop
- Massachusetts man fatally shoots neighbor, dog, himself; 2 kids shot were hospitalized
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Tuohy family calls Michael Oher's legal action over 'Blind Side' a 'shakedown' attempt
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Michigan State University plans to sell alcohol at four home football games
- Brody Jenner and Tia Blanco Share Glimpse Into New Chapter With Baby Girl Honey
- Chick-fil-A debuting new Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich, Caramel Crumble milkshake
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Some abortion drug restrictions are upheld by an appeals court in a case bound for the Supreme Court
- Darren Kent, British actor from 'Game of Thrones' and 'Dungeons & Dragons,' dies at age 39
- The Blind Side's Quinton Aaron Defends Sandra Bullock From Critics Amid Michael Oher-Tuohy Lawsuit
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Protesters march through Miami to object to Florida’s Black history teaching standards
Hurricanes cause vast majority of storm deaths in vulnerable communities
Some abortion drug restrictions are upheld by an appeals court in a case bound for the Supreme Court
Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
MBA 6: Operations and 25,000 roses
Aldi to buy 400 Winn-Dixie, Harveys groceries in Southern US
Christine Tran Ferguson Pens Heartbreaking Update on Her Grief Journey One Month After Son’s Death