Italy won a second title in the 20km walk at the Tokyo Olympics after Antonella Palmisano won the women’s race.
Antonella Palmisano, Italy’s first Olympic champion in women’s sport walking, won with a time of 1:29:12 and was 25 seconds ahead of Sandra Arenas (Colombia).
Liu Hong (China) finished third with 1:29:57 and failed to defend his first place from Rio de Janeiro. In addition to a title in Brazil and third place in Tokyo, the 34-year-old athlete won another bronze medal from London 2012. Liu Hong has won three gold and two silver medals at world championships, as well as two Asian titles.
The favorite Yang Jiayu (China) was moving almost parallel to Palmisano for most of the distance, but ran out of energy towards the end and finished 12th. In March, she set a new world record with 1:23:49 hours, but today she was 8 minutes and 5 seconds slower.
Women’s 20km walk:
1. Antonella Palmisano (Italy) – 1:29:12 hours
2. Sandra Arenas (Colombia) – 1:29:37
3. Liu Hong (China) – 1:29:57
4. Maria Perez (Spain) – 1:30.05
5. Alegna Gonzalez (Mexico) – 1:30.33
