Kimberly Garcia Leon, of Peru, wins the final in the women's 20km race walk at the World Athletics Championships on July 15, 2022, in Eugene, Oregon. (CHARLIE RIEDEL / AP)
EUGENE, Oregon - Peruvian Kimberly Garcia Leon won the first gold medal of the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon on Friday with her victory in the 20km race walk.
Garcia Leon crossed the line in a time of 1:26:58, with Poland's Katarzyna Zdzieblo claiming silver and China's Qieyang Shijie taking bronze.
With 3km left to go, 28-year-old Peruvian Kimberly Garcia Leon pulled away from 2012 Olympic champion Qieyang Shijie, who took silver three years ago, and broke the tape before embracing a member of her team
Qieyang and Garcia Leon shared a 20-second lead over the rest of the pack at the halfway mark and battled shoulder-to-shoulder through the next 5km in hot conditions.
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But with 3km left to go, 28-year-old Garcia Leon pulled away from the 2012 Olympic champion, who took silver three years ago, and broke the tape before embracing a member of her team.
"I have dreamed of this medal since I was little. I want to dedicate it to all Peruvians," she said.
Four-time champion Liu Hong, who led a Chinese podium sweep three years ago in Doha and collected bronze in the Tokyo Olympics last year, finished fifth.
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(From left) Poland's Katarzyna Zdzieblo, Peru's Kimberly Garcia Leon and China's Qieyang Shijie pose after competing in the women's 20km race walk final during the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon on July 15, 2022. (JIM WATSON / AFP)
In the men's race, Japan's Toshikazu Yamanishi successfully defended his 2019 title after fighting off compatriot and Tokyo silver medallist Koki Ikeda over the final few kilometres to cross the line in 1:19:07
Sweden's Perseus Karlstrom earned bronze before embracing his fellow podium finishers and hoisting Yamanishi into his arms at the finish line.
