Spain’s María Pérez carved her name into the history books in Tokyo on Saturday (20), completing a stunning “double double” at the World Athletics Championships.
Already the defending champion in both race walk distances, she retained her 35km crown on the opening day (13), then followed it with another commanding victory in the 20km to seal an achievement no woman has ever matched.
"Happiest woman in the world"
The 29-year-old from Orce delivered a season’s best of 1:25:54, striding clear in the closing stages to celebrate her triumph in style. “This is my fifth World Championships and my fourth medal – I am the happiest woman in the world,” she said afterwards.
“I didn’t come here to chase history, only to test myself. But to leave Japan like this, after the disappointment of the Olympics here in 2021, makes me truly proud.”
Pérez was fourth in the 20km at the Tokyo Olympics, but has returned to Japan as a much more authoritative figure on the roads.
Perez controlled the race throughout, breaking up the pack with a series of surges and steadily reducing the challengers until she was alone at the front. By 18km, she had the race in her hands, her pace and composure too much for the rest of the field.
Forever champion
With race walking distances set to change to half marathon and marathon after Tokyo, Pérez could forever remain the last women’s 20km and 3km world champion.
Her finish reflected the moment: discarding her cap, lifting her sunglasses to take in the scene, and pounding her chest in triumph before addressing the cameras with a nod to her Italian training partner Antonella Palmisano, who won silver in the 35km, but who dropped out at around halfway in the 20km event.
But the day belonged to Pérez once again, who took gold 12 seconds clear of Alegna González of Mexico in 1:26:06 and Nanako Fujii of Japan in 1:26:18.
Having bossed both events from start to finish, Pérez departs Japan not just as a double champion, but as an all-time great of race walking.