Saturday, September 13, 2025, 03:27
María Pérez is already synonymous with the legend of athletics. The Spanish had the Triple Crown – Olympic, World and European Campeone – and from today it is the Spanish athlete with more world golds by adding its third title in Tokyo and leaving behind the two golds of Abel Antón and Álvaro Martín. The confidence that the 29 -year -old from the fullness of his career as a marching is such that he is currently unbeatable, as he has demonstrated in a 35 -kilometer test where he has handled operations at will. After the problems with the technique he suffered in 2022, the Budapest World Champion of his four companions.
Maria is thus taken out the thorn that had stuck in Japan, when in the Tokyo Olympic Games, although she like the rest of the marchers competed in Sapporo for avoiding heat. It was fourth. And remember that the Spanish march is something out of series, because that of tonight – first time in Tokyo – has been the 22nd medal in some World Cups, more than half of the 41 harvested among all athletic disciplines,
After the intensity, effort and emotions lived last year at the Paris Games, María Pérez and her always coach Jacinto Garzón decided that a break had to be taken to continue looking for new goals, new goals. The Granadaine dedicated himself to enjoying his medals and to promote that success and then already focus on the preparation for the 2025 World Cup. The Europe Spaniards
Tokyo came convinced of his possibilities, but cautious with the conditions of heat and humidity that he sought to recreate in Torrejón de Ardoz. His idea was to take the first half of the test to the expectation, and so it has happened, letting rivals like Kimberly García, who has selected the group very soon and left it in five units. There, in addition to Maria, the Ecuadorian Torres, the Italian Palmisano and the China Peng. The situation has remained stable until passing through 20, where the main key was to hydrate conscientiously to alleviate heat (26 degrees) at seven in the morning and especially moisture, close to 90%.
There has come time for the Granada of Olvera. Concentrated behind the glasses, imperturbable, Maria has pressed her first rhythm with her friend Palmisano and then stay alone, in search of those final ten kilometers that were going to take her back to the World Cup glory. His rhythm was so spectacular that he allowed him to match a whole bomfin, the Brazilian who has ended second in the male category. Maria, who has been able to put three minutes to her chasing in the final 10 kilometers, flew to the stadium, in search of that marathon door that was reopened for a march test since Beijing 2015. Since then the march did not end inside a stadium, so María Pérez has enjoyed a new unforgettable experience, that of the return of honor as the world champion. Olvera’s is already eternal, and still remains, because in a week he will try his second double when playing the 20 kilometers.
In the finish line, delirium. Spanish flag in hand, has turned around the excited honor, in tears, enjoys a unique moment. “I love you Spain,” he shouted after crossing the goal, before being raised on his shoulders by the marches of the national male team that had entered before her,
The second place, three minutes later, has been for a Palmisano to which Japan is very good. The Italian flower in the hair that her mother always weaves was an Olympic champion in Tokyo, but last year in Paris she had to retire from the 20 kilometers between tears. Today she has smiled again, although he has had a friend in front of him who is now unattainable for the rest of the competitors. And the success of the Spanish march has been rounded with the sixth square of Raquel González and the seventh of Cristina Montesinos.
Agony in the male test
The male final has been as exciting as dramatic. The rhythm that Japanese marches have imposed has taken its toll, as has been the case of Kawano, which seemed clear dominator and has entered a total crisis and has even had to stop in the circuit. The Canadian Dunfee, a specialist, has left more until he won the title, but has not fought from some cramps that have forced the Frenchman Quignon, fifth, to enter the goal. And special mention for a Daniel Chamosa who has been sixth after a very intelligent performance.
