Spanish Race Walker Maria Perez Sets Second World Record

Maria Perez doesn't just break records. She stops to help her competitors too.

The 30-year-old Spanish race walker set a new world record in the women's half marathon race walk at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham last Saturday, finishing 24 seconds faster than the required standard of 1:30:30. It's her second world record, adding to the 35km race walk mark she set in 2023.

But the most talked about moment came when her close friend and rival, Italian Olympic champion Antonella Palmisano, tripped on a metal barrier jutting onto the course. Perez paused mid-race to grab Palmisano's hand, helping her recover balance before they continued racing.

The moment captured hearts across social media and reminded fans why Perez has become one of the sport's most beloved athletes. With an Olympic silver medal in the 20km, gold in the mixed relay at Paris 2024, and two World Athletics Championships titles, she's cemented herself among the greatest race walkers ever.

Perez grew up in Orce, a small rural village in Granada, Spain, where she learned the value of hard work early. She started working at 15 to help support her family.

"Seeing your father leave at seven in the morning to work in construction and return at eight at night, after a day under the sun, makes you value things more and gives meaning to what you do," she shared. Those lessons from her parents shaped the strong character and humility she carries despite her growing fame.

Why This Inspires

Off the track, Perez has become a leading voice for LGBTQ athletes in Spanish sports. She's featured in the national "Sport with Pride" campaign, promoting inclusion and visibility in athletics through simply living authentically.

"I don't know if I am a role model, I don't think about it that way," she said in a recent interview. "In my life, I have always wanted to be myself. I am very happy if I helped someone in the LGBTQ community by just being who I am."

Her "double double" of World Athletics Championships gold medals puts her alongside legends like Usain Bolt, Carl Lewis, and Mo Farah. But it's her combination of athletic excellence and genuine kindness that sets her apart.

From a small village in Granada to the top of the podium, Perez proves that being true to yourself and lifting others up makes victories even sweeter.