Paris 2024: Spain Wins Gold In Mixed Marathon Race Walk Relay

PARIS, Aug 7 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez claimed Spain's first athletics gold medal of the Paris Olympics by winning the mixed marathon race walk relay on Wednesday.

Martin and Perez finished in 2 hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds, ahead of Ecuador's Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon, who took silver in 2:51:22, Xinhua reported.

Australia's Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag claimed bronze in 2:51:38.

"It has been an incredible day," Perez said. "This (victory) is not only ours, but of all the Spanish race walkers."

Perez has now completed the trifecta of career gold medals at the Olympics, world championships and European championships.

"I feel very special because it's the first time that the triple crown has been achieved by an athlete from Spain and I'm fortunate enough to have shared it with Alvaro," the 28-year-old said.

It marked the second medal for both Martin and Perez in Paris. Martin clinched bronze in the men's 20km walk while Perez grabbed silver in the women's 20km event.

Martin said the knowledge that this would be his last appearance at the Olympics had given him extra motivation.

"It was an incredible race because we knew that it was very hard to try to get another Olympic medal," Martin said. "But I was with Maria, and she did the best that she could. This is amazing, this is history, not only for us but for Spanish race walking as well."

 Paris 2024 marked the mixed marathon race walk relay's debut at the Olympics.

--BERNAMA-XINHUA