We who we think to know quite well the race walk of our friends of Spain would not have bet 1 Euro on a result like that obtained in the two days of European Championships: two golds, one silver and one bronze.
A historical result, which is only reflected in that of Stuttgart in 1993.
Out of twelve available medals Spain has won four, equal to 33%.
Rewritten the world list of 20km women of which below we publish the list of the time less than 1:29:00. We can not say the same on a male level.
We try to understand why.
To get used to compete
Maria Perez this year has competed in 11 races and in Berlin she shattered the 20km Spanish record that belonged to Maria Vasco - 1:27:25 - from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games:
- 3.000m track: 1 time (12:00.87)
- 5.000m track: 4 times (21:51.16 - 22:05.35 - 20:59.79 - 20:38.16)
- 10,000m track: 1 time (44:33.03)
- 10km road walk: 1 time (46:27)
- 20km road walk: 4 times (1:31:46 - 1:28:50 - DNF in La Coruna - 1:26:36)
Alvaro Martin this year has competed in 8 races:
- 5.000m track: 2 times (20:37.84 - 19:18.32)
- 10,000m track: 1 time (39: 31.72)
- 20km road walk: 5 times (1:21.41 - 1:22:00 - 1:23:22 - 1:20:46 - 1:20:42)
Diego Garcia this year has competed in 14 races:
- 3.000m indoor: 1 time (11:06.57)
- 5.000m track: 4 times (20:46.18 - 20:49.19 - 20:49.40 - 19:49.20)
- 10.000m track: 3 times (40:35.66 - 41:16.76 - 41:05.78)
- 20km road walk: 6 times (1:27:52 - 1:23:31 - 1:21:15 - 1:24:37 - 1:19:18 - 1:20:48)
Julia Takacs this year has competed in 10 races:
- 5.000m track: 4 times (23:07.84 - 22:05.2 - 21:20.98)
- 10,000m track: 1 time (45:28.77)
- 20km road walk: 3 times (1:33:36 - 1:33:23 - 1:27:58)
- 50km road walk: 3 times (4:13:04 - 4:16:37 - 4:15:22)
We believe very few athletes at European level can boast a series of results as the four represented to which we are sure if others will be added before the end of the season.
The great walkrs of the past from Bautista to Gonzalez, from Pribilinec to Damilano competed with similar frequencies and intensities. Fashions have changed in recent years; the preparation of big events is often done to the detriment of the races in the season whether these are national or international.
At that time, competing in international events between 12 and 15 times a year was quite normal.
The results of Spain in these European Championships show us the opposite of new fashions.
Train competing
Perhaps we will be wrong, but we believe that one of the tests of skill of the athletes of Spain (we imagine suggested by their technical sector) is that of interpreting the race many times as a training.
We explain better.
Today is scheduled a training on speed: I take this opportunity to participate in a 5,000m track walk with the aim of obtaining a time similar to the one on which I had to do the training.
Sunday is a long training session type: I'm going to compete on 20km regardless of the result I will get.
This type of participation philosophy helps the athlete to perceive also how he is judged by the various juries, whether international or national.
Conclusions
For example, few women in Europe and in the World competed as much as Maria Perez and Julia Takacs in 2018.
We count them on the fingers of one hand and they are
- Ines Henriques (POR): 1 time on 5.000m trak walk, 1 time on 10.000m track walk, 4 times on 20km road walk and 2 times on 50km road walk
- Anezka Drahotova (CZE): 2 times on the 5.000m trak walk, 1 time on the 10.000m track walk and 5 times on the 20km road walk
- Qieyang Shenjie (CHN) who is preparing for the Asian Games but has already competed: 1 time on 5.000m trak walk, 1 time on 10km road walk, 4 times on 20km road walk.
Needless to say, but all in the course of 2018 have obtained medals in major events.