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Dominating the men's 20km race walk, Martin set the streets of the Hungarian capital ablaze, registering the fastest time this year at an impressive 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 32 seconds.
Spain's Alvaro Martin took home the first gold medal of the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest on Saturday.
Dominating the men's 20km race walk, Martin set the streets of the Hungarian capital ablaze, registering the fastest time this year at an impressive 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 32 seconds.
Perseus Karlstrom from Sweden finished closely behind, just seven seconds adrift, but still managed to set a new Swedish national record.
Meanwhile, Brazil's Caio Bonfim rounded off the podium, grabbing the bronze and, in the process, setting a new national record for Brazil.
This victory wasn't just another win for Martin. The two-time European champion's performance was especially poignant given his recent history.
"I was fourth at the last Olympic Games, I missed the bronze which motivated me to work hard," he recalled.
"In Tokyo, I felt when I was in the fourth position that I could win a medal. Unfortunately, it did not happen," he shared.
Martin's triumph, as he expressed, was also a journey of self-belief and pushing limits. "I didn't know if I could do it and to win in the time that I did is amazing."
Toshikazu Yamanishi, who was aiming for a hattrick following his previous victories in Doha in 2019 and Oregon in the previous year, faced a surprising turn of events, finishing only in the 24th position.
Adding to the drama of the day, the race, which took place around a course in Budapest's city centre, had to be delayed by two hours due to a heavy downpour.
This torrential rain also impacted other events, pushing back the start of the heats at the National Athletics Centre located south of the city centre.
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