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Perez, Fiorini set world records in winning Euro race walk golds

By AFP

Published on Agosto 15, 2026 at 12:24

Spain's Maria Perez celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the European women's half marathon race walk in a world record time — Paul ELLIS / AFP
Spain's Maria Perez celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the European women's half marathon race walk in a world record time — Paul ELLIS / AFP

Spain's Maria Perez and Italian Sofia Fiorini set new world records when winning the half-marathon and marathon race walk events respectively at the European championships in Birmingham on Saturday.

Four-time world champion Perez finished in 1:30:06, smashing by more than two minutes the previous world record set by Italy's Antonella Palmisano in Podebrady, Czechia, in May.

Italian Alexandrina Mihai claimed silver and Ukraine's Lyudmila Olyanovska bronze, both with times that also bettered Palmisano's mark.

Fiorini meanwhile timed 3:15:11 for victory in the marathon race walk ahead of Poland's Katarzyna Zdzieblo and Spain's Raquel Gonzalez.

The time bettered by more than 10 minutes her own previous world record set in Brasilia earlier this year.

There was another gold for Spain in the half-marathon when Paul McGrath wrapped up the men's event in 1:23:23 ahead of the Italian pair of Francesco Fortunato and Andrea Cosi.

And Italy's Massimo Stano, the 20km champion at the Tokyo Olympics, claimed gold in the men's marathon race walk in a world-leading 2:56:49.

Spain's Miguel Angel Lopez took silver, France's Aurelien Quinion claiming bronze.

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