Yang Jiayu Wins Olympic Gold in the 20 km Race Walk

Yang Jiayu, the world record holder in the women's 20 km walking race, secured the first athletics gold medal for China at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Competing on a brisk Thursday morning, Yang showcased her exceptional skills and endurance, leading the pack and crossing the finish line ahead of her competitors.

World record holder Yang Jiayu claimed the first athletics gold medal for China at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris in the women’s 20 km walking race. 

Jiayu broke away after the 5 km mark and opened up a 12 seconds lead over the chasing pack of eight athletes with 13 km to go. The Chinese walker extended her lead to 36 seconds with 8 km to go. 

Yang was still in the lead, but world 20 and 35 km walking race champion Maria Perez reduced the gap to 20 seconds with three km to go and took a further 10 seconds off Yang’s lead in one km. Yang had a lead of just 15 seconds over Perez with two laps to go. Jemima Montag from Australia was a further 11 seconds adrift. 

The Chinese walker held on to win the gold medal in a seasonal best of 1:25.54. Perez finished 25 seconds behind Yang to win the silver medal in a seasonal best of 1:26:19.

Montag broke away from a group of three athletes at the 17 km mark to claim the bronze medal in a new area record of 1:26:25 one year after finishing second at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. Lorena Arenas crossed the finish-line in fourth place setting a national record of 1:27:03. 

Yang won the world gold medal in London 2017 and holds the 20 km world record with 1:23:49. She is the fourth Chinese athlete to win the Olympic title in the 20 km walking race for China.

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TOP RESULTS WOMEN'S 20KM RACE WALK