Jiayu Yang Shocks the Field with Gold in Women’s 20km Walk at Paris 2024

Paris, August 1 (EFE) – The Chinese Jiayu Yang, who was not among the top favorites, shocked everyone in the women’s 20-kilometer race walk at the Paris 2024 Olympics, claiming the gold medal ahead of Spain’s María Pérez, who took silver, and Australia’s Jemina Montag.

Yang dominated a good part of the race solo on a one-kilometer course designed between Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower.

In intense heat and high humidity, the women’s race took place shortly after the men’s event concluded. Jiayu Yang adapted best to the conditions. She was the bravest, even seeming reckless as she broke away early from the leading group, which included all the contenders.

A world champion in London 2017 and twelfth in Tokyo, the Chinese walker extended her lead over others who were more conservative and tactical, waiting for the right moment to change the pace and hoping for a slowdown from the leader to fight for victory.

But Yang remained composed. Despite the warnings, she stayed firm. Her pace was ideal to maintain a comfortable lead while, behind her, the decisive blow was struck by María Pérez, a double champion in the 20 and 35 kilometers at the recent Budapest World Championships, while unexpectedly, the Peruvian Kimberly García fell behind.

The Spanish athlete created a gap behind her rivals and seemed to have the chance to catch up with the Chinese. She managed to close the gap to just fifteen seconds with two kilometers to go, having cut her disadvantage in half. Behind, Australia’s Jemina Montag and Colombia’s Lorena Arenas, silver medalist in Tokyo, did not allow her to relax.

The Chinese held on and even slightly increased her lead to be crowned champion with a time of 1h25:54, her best mark of the season as a reward for her daring, while María Pérez held on to claim her first Olympic medal, also with her best time of the year (1h26:19).

The Aussie walker crossed the finish line six seconds later, while Arenas finished fourth with a national record (1h27:03), Mexican Alegna González came in fifth (1h27:14), and Ecuadorian Glenda Morejón sixth (1h27:37).