Spanish race walker María Pérez won the half marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, setting a new world record in the event. The athlete from Orce in Granada dominated the race to secure her second continental title, adding to the gold medal she won over 20 kilometers in Berlin in 2018.
Pérez said that new generations need to see that if she was capable of achieving this success, they can too, adding that she is neither an extraterrestrial nor a machine. Her victory came over a distance of 21 kilometers and 97 meters, which is 1 kilometer and 97 meters longer than the previous 20-kilometer championship event.
After her 2018 win in Berlin, Pérez faced several difficult years with her race walking technique before rebuilding her form to become the top athlete in the discipline. She went on to become a double world champion in 2023 in Budapest by winning both the 20-kilometer and 35-kilometer events. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, she earned an individual silver medal in the 20-kilometer race and a gold medal in the mixed relay alongside Álvaro Martín, before retaining her double world title in Tokyo in 2025.
Race tactics and training adjustments
Ahead of the European Championships in Birmingham, Pérez eased her training intensity for the season without dropping her performance level. She planned the adjustment to prepare for increased effort next year and for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Pérez controlled the race in Birmingham from the start, initially walking alongside her friend, Italian athlete Antonella Palmisano. The two competitors embraced before the start. When Palmisano stumbled early in the race, Pérez extended her arm, held her, and told her to get behind her and stay out of trouble.
At the 10-kilometer mark, Pérez made a decisive attack. She completed the remaining half of the 21 kilometers and 97 meters without female companions, but walked beside Spanish athlete Miguel Ángel López, an emblem of race walking in Spain who trained with her in Font-Romeu and later won the silver medal in his event.
Course conditions and race execution
The race walking events in Birmingham were somewhat chaotic because men and women competed simultaneously in both the marathon and half marathon. Competitors navigated a narrow circuit featuring difficult curves, bottlenecks, and a steep hill, though cool temperatures supported the athletes. At one point, male marathon runners caught up with female half marathon walkers because they shared a similar pace.
Pérez clarified that no athletes were helping each other on the course and that she was walking as fast as she could. She stated that while the circuit was complicated, it was enjoyable because she was never walking alone.
Holding a large lead, Pérez slowed her pace over the final two laps. She greeted members of the Spanish delegation who reached out to her, took a Spanish flag, and crossed the finish line with her customary jump.
Finish line results and post race celebrations
Pérez waited at the finish line for Palmisano, who faded late in the race and finished in fourth place. Italian race walker Alexandrina Mihai won the silver medal despite receiving two warnings, while Ukrainian athlete Olyanovska took the bronze medal. Spanish athletes Aldara Meilán, aged 19, and Antía Chamosa finished in ninth and twelfth places respectively.
When Palmisano reached the finish line, the two athletes embraced again. Pérez described the 35-year-old Italian competitor as a personal inspiration for continuing to compete at the highest level.
Palmisano, the 2024 champion, placed a handmade crown on Pérez. The crown had been crafted by Palmisano's mother so that whichever athlete won would place it on the other. Celebrating afterward, Pérez noted that a bottle of champagne and ham were waiting in her room, stating that whether things go well or poorly, achievements must be celebrated. She added that she can now cut her hair after a year, having fulfilled a bet made with Palmisano at the previous World Championships to let it grow if she won the double title.
