Spain's Maria Perez Sets First Women's Half Marathon Walk Record

Spain's Maria Perez just made history by setting the very first world record in women's half marathon race walking, and she did it with 24 seconds to spare.

Competing at the European Athletics Championships on Saturday, Perez finished the inaugural half marathon race walk in 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 6 seconds. That time beat the world record standard of 1:30:30 that World Athletics set in December when they officially recognized the new distance.

The half marathon race walk replaces the traditional 20-kilometer event, giving athletes a fresh challenge and fans a more familiar distance to follow. Perez seized the opportunity to make her mark on the record books from day one.

This wasn't just about setting a record. Perez also claimed her first European gold medal since 2018, when she won the 20-kilometer race walk. Italy's Alexandrina Mihai finished second, and Ukraine's Lyudmila Olyanovska earned bronze in the historic race.

Why This Inspires

Perez's achievement shows what's possible when elite athletes embrace change instead of resisting it. When World Athletics introduced this new distance, she didn't complain about learning a different race strategy. She trained for it, mastered it, and now owns it.

The Spanish champion already holds the world record for the 35-kilometer race walk, which she set in 2023. She's also a four-time world champion in her sport, proving that excellence at one distance can translate to success at another.

At 33 years old, Perez continues pushing boundaries in a demanding sport that requires incredible endurance, perfect technique, and mental toughness. Her willingness to adapt and excel at a new distance eight years after her last European gold shows that champions keep evolving.

Race walking might not grab headlines like sprinting or marathon running, but athletes like Perez are changing that narrative one record at a time.