The inaugural Olympic marathon race walk mixed relay witnessed a thrilling victory for Spain’s Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez, who claimed the gold medal. The event marked the debut of the mixed relay at the Paris Olympics 2024, replacing the 50 km race walk. Ecuador and Australia secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
However, the race was marred by allegations of rule violations, with viewers claiming that some athletes lifted their feet off the ground during the walk. “Not convinced these competitors in the walk race aren’t cheating. Looks very much to me like they’re jogging,” commented user Wullie M. Sports journalist Rob Williams expressed his frustration, stating, “Nothing infuriates me more than race walk cheaters.”
According to the race walking rules, one foot of the athlete must remain in contact with the ground at all times, visible to the human eye. Additionally, the knee of the advanced leg must not bend, and the leg must straighten as the body passes over it. Race walkers are closely monitored and can be penalized for bending their knees during the race.
India’s hopes for a strong performance in the event were dashed when their team, consisting of Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Goswami, failed to finish the final. The team received multiple warnings during the race, ultimately leading to their disqualification. This setback marked a disappointment for the Indian athletics contingent, which had high expectations for the event.
