20 kilometres Race Walk, Women1

There was no obvious favorite, but China’s Yang Jiayu had the fastest time of 2024 with 1:-26:07, and had the second fastest mark of all-time, with 1-23:49, set in 2021. Her biggest challenger was expected to be Spain’s María Pérez, who had won the 20 and 35 km walks at the 2023 World Championships. Italy’s Antonella Palmisano was the defending gold medalist but she would not finish.

By 5 km, Yang had moved ahead of the pack and the only question was if she had gone out too fast or if anyone could catch her. Both answers were no. Yang led at each kilometre, opening up 48 seconds over Pérez by 14 km. Pérez would close slightly in the final kilometres but Yang won gold with a 25-second margin over the Spaniard.

Behind them, Australia’s Jemima Montag moved up from fifth at 16 km and closed quickly, actually almost catching Pérez in the 19th kilo, and finally finishing only six seconds behind her. This was Australia’s second Olympic medal in the event, after Jane Saville also took bronze in 2004. Pérez’s silver was likewise the second for Spain in the event, after María Vascó had taken bronze in 2000.

Although this was only the seventh time the 20 km race walk had been on the Olympic Programme for women, it was the fourth victory in the event for China, after 2000, 2012, and 2016. Yang’s gold was also China’s eighth medal in the event, with silver in 2012, and bronzes in 2012, 2016, and 2020.