In a thrilling display of athleticism at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ecuadorian Brian Daniel Pintado clinched gold in the men’s 20km march with a time of 1:18:55, narrowly missing the Olympic record by just 9 seconds. This victory marks Ecuador’s first gold medal in this event since Jefferson Pérez’s triumph at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, exactly 28 years ago.Brazilian Caio Bonfim secured the silver medal with a time of 1:19:09, while Spanish world champion Álvaro Martín claimed bronze, finishing in 1:19:11. For Bonfim, 33, this medal represents a significant achievement after narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics.Pintado, who was the 2023 world silver medalist in the 35km march, made a decisive move before the final lap that his competitors couldn’t match. After crossing the finish line, an emotional Pintado dedicated his victory to his children, saying, ‘It tastes like a better life for my children’.In the women’s 20km walk, Spanish athlete María Pérez, 30, claimed the silver medal. Pérez, a four-time world champion, trailed behind Chinese athlete Jiayu Yang but managed to reduce a 44-second gap to just 20 seconds in the final kilometer. This marks Spain’s first Olympic medal in the 20km walk since Jordi Llopart’s silver in 1980.The Paris Olympics continue to showcase extraordinary athletic performances, with these march events highlighting the intense competition and personal triumphs of athletes from around the world.
Key points
- Ecuadorian Brian Daniel Pintado wins gold in men’s 20km march at Paris Olympics.
- Brazilian Caio Bonfim secures silver, his first Olympic medal after near misses in previous games.
- Spanish world champion Álvaro Martín takes bronze in men’s event.
- In women’s 20km walk, Spain’s María Pérez wins silver behind China’s Jiayu Yang.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy in the reporting of Caio Bonfim’s event.
While most sources correctly state he won silver in the 20km march, one source incorrectly reports him winning silver in the 50km walk.
