How it works
Men and women contest the shorter of the two Olympic race-walking distances.
Race-walking differs from running because one foot must be in contact with the ground at all times. Failure to adhere to this is known as ‘lifting’. Rules also state that the supporting leg must straighten from the point of contact with the ground and remain straight until the body passes over it. Three violations of these rules during a race lead to an athlete's disqualification.
The race is held on a road course, but at major championships they often start and finish in the main stadium.
History
Race-walking dates to the 17th and 18th centuries. The first competitors were the footmen who would run and/or walk by the side of their masters’ coaches. The upper-class began to stake wagers as to which of their footmen would win a race – some of which lasted for six days! – and the sport became an increasingly popular betting activity during the 19th century, when it was known as 'pedestrianism'.
The discipline first appeared at the Olympics in 1904 as a half-mile race that was part of the ‘all-rounder’, a forerunner of the decathlon. Stand-alone races were introduced in 1906 and, apart from the 1928 Amsterdam Games, have been a fixture ever since.
The 20km walk has been contested by men since 1956. Women first competed in race-walking at the Olympics in 1992, over 10km. They stepped up to 20km in 2000.
Did you know
A male world-class walker can average under seven minutes per mile throughout the 20km, while women in the same class can average under eight.
Gold standard
Spain, Russia, Poland and Italy have a strong tradition in the men’s 20km walk, while Australia, Ecuador and Mexico have also enjoyed success. On the women’s side, China, Australia, Russia and Italy are among the leading nations.
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Jefferson Perez
The most famous Ecuadorian athlete has performed at a world-class level for more than a decade. His first major success was a gold in the 1996 Olympic 20km (his nation’s first Olympic medal) and he has since scored a hat-trick – 2003, 2005 and 2007 – of world titles over the same distance.
Olimpiada Ivanova
The Russian has been the most consistent race-walker since the turn of the millennium, winning four major medals: the world titles of 2001 and 2005, the 2002 European title and an Olympic silver in 2004.