Italy’s Massimo Stano smashed the world record in the 35km race walk at the 2025 European Race Walking Team Championships in Podebrady on Sunday (18) morning.
One year after Maria Perez broke the world record in the women’s 35km race walk, Stano rewrote the record book in the men’s 35km race walk with 2:20:43.
The 2022 world champion shaved 57 seconds off the previous world record which was set by Canada’s Evan Dunfee in Dudince two months ago in neighbouring Slovakia.
"The approach to the race was not to set out to break the world record, but the strategy was to close the last 20 kilometres as fast as possible. That was my mission, then the world record was the consequence," said Stano who covered the last 20 kilometres in a fast 1:19:06.
Stano bided his time in the early stages as Poland's Maher Ben Hlima set the early pace, leading by 54 seconds at 15 kilometres in 1:01:37 and by 34 seconds at 20 kilometres in 1:21:42.
But the gap continued to diminish and Stano sailed past the early leader in the 24th kilometre. At this point, the world record wasn't a likelihood but the 33-year-old Italian continually covered the one kilometre loop in under four minutes which brought Dunfee's world record into clear view.
The first clear sign that a world record was a likelihood rather than a possibility was Stano's 30 kilometre split of 2:00:57, two seconds faster than Dunfee's corresponding split en route to his world record. And in the last five kilometres, Stano ensured the world record would be taken under the 2:21-barrier with 2:20:43 which brings the 2:20-barrier into view.
In near perfect conditions in Podebrady - around 10C and very little wind - the top three finishers all broke records of some description.
German veteran Christopher Linke set a national record of 2:23:21 to win silver while 2022 European champion Miguel Angel Lopez took ownership of the Spanish record with bronze in 2:23:48.
Stano also led Italy to the team title ahead of Spain and Germany.
Back-to-back titles for Perez
Spain’s Maria Perez also took a come-from-behind victory to regain her title in the women’s 35km race walk.
Perez reeled in early leader Eleonora Giorgi from Italy not once but twice en route to back-to-back titles in the Czech spa town.
The double world champion initially passed early leader Giorgi with 1:26 on the clock before the Spaniard took an unplanned comfort break which allowed Giorgi to regain the lead.
However, Perez - who spearheaded a Spanish 1-2-3 in 2023 - still had ample time to close the gap which she did, moving back into the lead with 1:41 on the clock and 13 kilometres remaining.
After that, it was plain sailing for Perez who pressed on to victory in a world leading time of 2:38:59, a world lead and the ninth fastest time in history.
Italy’s reigning European 20km race walk champion Antonella Palmisano made an auspicious debut at this distance, taking individual silver in a national record of 2:39:35 and leading Italy to the team title.
Palmisano was backed up solidly by Nicole Colombi (2:39:35) and Federica Curiazzi (2:41:47) who finished third and fifth individually.
By contrast, Giorgi - who led Perez by 41 seconds at the 10km checkpoint - paid for her aggressive start and dropped out in the 27th kilometre.