Brian Daniel Pintado (C) of Ecuador competes during the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
PARIS, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's Brian Pintado won the first athletics gold of Paris 2024, taking victory in the men's 20km race walk in one hour, 18 minutes and 55 seconds here on Thursday morning.
"I have competed in three Olympic Games, and now I'm an Olympic champion. It's a dream come true," said Pintado after his triumph.
It is Ecuador's first medal in Paris, while the country's first ever Olympic medal also came in the race walk, with Jefferson Perez claiming gold at Atlanta 1996.
The race was delayed by half an hour due to rain, eventually beginning at 8 a.m.. After 15 kilometers, a group of four athletes had emerged at the head of the field, and Pintado pushed himself forward in the last lap, defeating Brazil's Caio Bonfim, who came second in 1:19:09, with Spain's Alvaro Martin claiming bronze in 1:19:11. Tokyo 2020 race walk champion Massimo Stano missed out on the medal placings, crossing the line just one second behind Martin.
"It was insane. In the last few meters, I realized I was completely alone, and seeing the finish line I just kept thinking, I'm the Olympic champion, it's me," said Pintado afterwards.
Zhang Jun was China's best finisher, placing 10th in 1:19:56, with Li Yandong and Wang Zhaozhao ranking 31st and 36th respectively.
Zhang, who has the world's second best time in 2024, expressed disappointment in his race afterwards. "I performed well in the first 10 kilometers, but the humid condition affected me, and I was out of pace in the last phase," he rued.
The 26-year-old had finished eighth in Tokyo three years ago, and won the 2023 Asian Games, but was coy on his future in the sport.
"I have been improving over the past three years, but I don't know if I will compete in the next edition," he said. ■
Brian Daniel Pintado (2nd L) of Ecuador crosses the finish line during the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Gold medalist Brian Daniel Pintado (C) of Ecuador, silver medalist Caio Bonfim (L) of Brazil and bronze medalist Alvaro Martin of Spain attend the awarding ceremony after the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Brian Daniel Pintado of Ecuador celebrates winning after the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Brian Daniel Pintado of Ecuador celebrates winning after the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Alvaro Martin of Spain celebrates after the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Caio Bonfim of Brazil celebrates after the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)
Athletes compete during the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Athletes compete during the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
Caio Bonfim (front, L) of Brazil and Zhang Jun (front, R) of China compete during the men's 20km race walk of athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Song Yanhua)
