Pu Huajia brought the U20 men&rsquo;s 10km title back to Chinese ownership at the Caixa World Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 on Sunday (12).
The 18-year-old delivered a dominant performance to win by 49 seconds, crossing the line in a PB of 39:58.
Australia&rsquo;s defending champion Isaac Beacroft, who won in Antalya two years ago at the age of 16, had to settle for the runner-up spot with 40:47. Alessio Coppola placed third (41:16) and led Italy to the team title.
The race got off to a conservative start with Beacroft at the head of a large lead pack through the first kilometre. As the group approached the two-kilometre mark, Beacroft started to increase the pace slightly, but Pu went with him.
With 14 minutes on the clock, Pu and Beacroft had a five-second lead over the rest of the field and they continued to race alongside one another for most of the first half.
In the second half, though, Pu managed to break free from Beacroft, opening up a significant lead on the Australian who had set a world U20 10,000m record at the end of last year.
Pu, contesting his first race outside China, powered ahead and crossed the line in 39:58, the fourth-fastest winning time at these championships. It&rsquo;s the fifth time in the six most recent editions that China has won the U20 men&rsquo;s title at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Beacroft followed in 40:47 while Coppola placed third in 41:16.
"I think my strategy for the race was good, especially towards the end of the race," said Pu. "I was feeling good, which was encouraging. The goal for my next race is to break 39 minutes."
Coppola&rsquo;s teammate Nicolo Vidal finished fourth, while Shi Chengxi of China was sixth, meaning Italy and China both notched up seven points in the team standings. But Italy claimed the victory &ndash; their first team triumph in the U20 race &ndash; by virtue of a higher-placed second counter.
Australia, with Owen Toyne placing 12th, claimed team bronze.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75%; border-color: #222222; border-style: solid;" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">Pu Huajia (CHN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">39:58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">Isaac Beacroft (AUS)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">40:47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Alessio Coppola (ITA)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">41:16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Nicolo Vidal (ITA)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">41:25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Emiliano Barba (MEX)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">41:49</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/results/men/10-kilometres-race-walk/final/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75%; border-color: #222222; border-style: solid;" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 MEN'S TEAM RESULTS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">Italy</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">China</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Australia</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/results/men/10-kilometres-race-walk/final/team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26

Report of the U20 men's 10km at the Caixa World Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26

Pu dominates U20 men's race in Brasilia

The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 will break new ground this weekend as the global race walking community gathers in Brazil for a landmark edition of the championships on Sunday (12).
For the first time in the event&rsquo;s history, the competition will be held in South America &ndash; and in the Southern Hemisphere &ndash; marking a significant moment for the discipline and for the sport more broadly.
With a record-breaking programme, new race formats and a global field of more than 330 athletes from about 40 federations, the stage is set for a historic edition of the championships in Bras&iacute;lia &ndash; one that promises to leave a lasting legacy for race walking in South America and beyond.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the importance of the occasion within a packed global calendar.
&ldquo;This is a big occasion,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;What makes this edition especially significant is that it is the first time the event has been held in South America, and indeed the first time in the Southern Hemisphere &ndash; something I&rsquo;m particularly pleased about.
&ldquo;This is also the third stop on this year&rsquo;s World Athletics Series calendar. Not long ago, we were in Tallahassee for the World Cross Country Championships, and just last month we were in Poland for a very successful edition of the World Indoor Championships. Now we are here in Bras&iacute;lia.
&ldquo;And it&rsquo;s worth reflecting on something I often say: there is no sport on the planet that combines such diversity, inclusion and global reach as athletics. This year alone, we will stage events across four continents. From here, we move to Africa for the World Relays in Gaborone, to the United States for the World U20 Championships, then back to Europe for the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, and finally to Budapest for the Ultimate Championship, which will be the crescendo of our year.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m particularly pleased to see the athletes here, who will, of course, be the stars of the show,&rdquo; added Coe. &ldquo;I spent time with them earlier this morning in a very productive discussion about the future of race walking and some of the challenges the discipline faces. Those conversations are always invaluable.
&ldquo;Innovation is important, and this edition reflects that. For the first time, we have introduced the half marathon and marathon distances for race walking, which I believe is a significant step forward for the discipline.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to place on record my thanks to the Brazilian Federation, the local organising committee, and the municipal authorities for creating a route that showcases some of the most iconic landmarks of this capital city.&rdquo;
For Brazil, hosting the championships represents both recognition and opportunity, as emphasised by Confedera&ccedil;&atilde;o Brasileira de Atletismo President Wlamir Motta Campos.
&ldquo;This is a historic moment for our sport and for our country,&rdquo; said Campos. &ldquo;For the first time, this event is being held in the Southern Hemisphere. These championships place Bras&iacute;lia and Brazil firmly on the global sporting stage, reinforcing our commitment to promoting athletics and hosting major international events.
&ldquo;Hosting this championship is both a great honour and a source of immense pride. We are deeply grateful for the trust that World Athletics has placed in us by awarding Brazil this important event.
&ldquo;We are confident that this championship will be a great success and a historic milestone for race walking in Brazil and across South America. I am sure this event will remain in our memories for many years to come.&rdquo;
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sport, National Secretary for High-Performance Sport, Iziane Castro Marques de Oliveira highlighted the broader impact of the championships and the role of government support in athlete development.
&ldquo;This event is not only a source of pride for Brazil, it also reflects our commitment to investing in people, in careers and in dreams,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Programmes such as Bolsa Atleta are essential in ensuring that our athletes can train, compete and perform at the highest level.
&ldquo;Beyond elite performance, this championship is about inspiration &ndash; about showing young athletes that there is a pathway for them to grow, progress and reach the world stage.&rdquo;
World 35km champion Evan Dunfee was among the five athletes in attendance at the press conference. The Canadian is heading into his eighth World Race Walking Team Championships with a different approach to previous editions.
&ldquo;On the way to winning the 35km in Tokyo, I suffered a severe hamstring injury &ndash; a full avulsion &ndash; so I&rsquo;ve been in recovery mode. This is the first championships in a long time where I&rsquo;m coming in with a very different mindset. I&rsquo;m not here to contest for the podium, I just want to see what my body is capable of right now. I also have three athletes I coach on the team, so I&rsquo;m here wearing two hats &ndash; athlete and coach.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m now in my 20th season of competing internationally, and this is my eighth World Race Walking Team Championships. My journey is one of growth; sport has taught me everything &ndash; how to win, but more importantly how to lose. It&rsquo;s taught me how to set extraordinarily big goals and how to chase them with passion.
&ldquo;The suitcase I travelled here with is from my first national team in 2006,&rdquo; added Dunfee. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s older than some of the teammates here that I coach, which is a fairly remarkable full circle symbol. I now get to impart a fraction of the wisdom I&rsquo;ve learned from my great coach, Gerry Dragomir, on to the next generation.&rdquo;
Home favourite Caio Bonfim, winner of the world 20km title last year, underlined the significance of competing on home soil.
&ldquo;Winning medals has changed my life in terms of recognition, but I&rsquo;m still the same person,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The biggest change is visibility &ndash; people recognising you &ndash; but internally, I haven&rsquo;t changed.
&ldquo;This is a big moment not just for me, but for Brazil &ndash; to showcase race walking to the world. From the moment we knew Brazil would host this event, it brought both excitement and responsibility. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes, but now it&rsquo;s time to deliver.&rdquo;
Fellow Brazilian Viviane Lyra &ndash; the South African 20km champion &ndash; echoed that sentiment.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very special for Brazil to host this competition,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The team is united, determined and ready. Competing in front of our home crowd &ndash; our family and friends &ndash; makes this moment even more meaningful.
&ldquo;The marathon is a special distance, so to have the opportunity to complete one here at home is amazing.&rdquo;
Like Lyra, Ecuador&rsquo;s world 35km bronze medallist Paula Torres is also stepping up to the marathon distance, embracing both the challenge and the legacy of her nation in the discipline.
&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t entirely my decision to move to the marathon; my coach guided me towards it,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;At first, I thought it might be too much, but I&rsquo;ve grown to really enjoy it. Now I feel comfortable with the distance and I&rsquo;m very excited to compete.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m proud to come from a country with such a strong tradition in race walking, so tomorrow I&rsquo;ll race with pride and I&rsquo;ll be thinking about my country with every step.&rdquo;
Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m &ndash; winner of the 20km at these championships in 2024 and the 35km in 2022 &ndash; is uncertain about whether he&rsquo;ll be able to make the start line on Sunday after coming down with illness since arriving in Brasilia. Nevertheless, the multiple world medallist is treating 2026 as a fresh start.
&ldquo;Last year was very difficult, but this year is about starting fresh,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I know I still have more to give.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve already raced one marathon this year, and I think the distance suits the discipline well. It&rsquo;s closer to the traditional long-distance nature of race walking than the 35km.&rdquo;

The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 will break new ground this weekend

Historic stage set for Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26

Home hope Viviane Lyra and Ecuador&rsquo;s Paula Torres will form part of an intriguing women&rsquo;s marathon clash at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26 on Sunday (12).
More than 40 athletes from 13 federations are entered for the event, which makes its World Athletics Series event debut in Brazil. Some of the leading names will be racing for the first time over this new distance, which will be contested on a 2km loop course in the Brazilian capital.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
Much attention will be on Lyra, the South American 20km race walk champion who set an area best of 3:24:54 when making her marathon race walk debut in Dublin in December. That makes her the fastest among the entrants when it comes to PBs and she also brings great championship experience &ndash; the 32-year-old finished fourth in the 35km and eighth in the 20km at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest before repeating that double in Tokyo last year, placing 12th in the 20km and 13th in the 35km.&nbsp;
Among those joining her on the Brazilian team are two-time South American medallist Gabriela de Sousa and Mayara Luize Vicentainer, who step up to the marathon for the first time as they all look to make an impact on the team standings on home roads. De Sousa started her year with a half marathon win in 1:45:09 in Bras&iacute;lia, while Vicentainer has raced the shorter distance twice so far this year, her best being 1:44:43 in Timb&oacute; last month.
Torres leads an Ecuadorian team looking to follow in the footsteps of individual champion Glenda Morej&oacute;n and the squad that secured the 35km team title for the nation in 2022.&nbsp;
Torres clinched world 35km bronze and finished fourth in the 20km at the World Championships in Tokyo last year. She was fifth in the 20km at the last edition of the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya two years ago and has tested herself in the half marathon twice this year, winning the national title and then finishing fourth in Dudince in a PB of 1:36:18.
She will line up alongside her teammates Magaly Bonilla, Johana Ord&oacute;&ntilde;ez and Karla Jaramillo, who were all part of the Ecuadorian squad that secured 35km team success in 2022, plus Nataly Le&oacute;n. Bonilla clocked 3:34:11 for the marathon last year, while Le&oacute;n won the national title in 3:36:29 in February.
Italy&rsquo;s 2019 world 50km race walk bronze medallist Eleonora Giorgi also makes her marathon race walk debut. Joined by Sofia Fiorini, the 21-year-old who set a European best of 3:27:19 to win the national title in January, they will be seeking a strong team performance alongside 2022 European 35km race walk fourth-place finisher Federica Curiazzi.
China top the entry list with five of the six fastest athletes so far this year and they will be powerful team contenders. Xi Ricuo leads the way after her 3:25:38 performance to finish third at the Chinese Race Walking Grand Prix in Taicang last month. Sangdan Quzhen (3:26:25), Zhang Jiahui (3:27:29), Asian Race Walking Championships silver medallist Li Yanhong (3:28:24) and Li Xinyu (3:28:49) filled the next four spots in that race and will want to build on those results in Bras&iacute;lia to win another team title after the nation&rsquo;s 50km team win in 2018 and multiple 20km team victories.
National champion Manju Rani leads the Indian team after clocking 3:33:24 in February, while 2021 world U20 champion Sof&iacute;a Ramos Rodr&iacute;guez is back in action for Mexico after winning in Dudince in 3:35:37.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the women's marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: Lyra and Torres among major medallists set for marathon clash

A fascinating team battle is in prospect in the men&rsquo;s marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26, with several nations fielding closely matched squads as the discipline makes its championship debut on Sunday (12).
Fifty athletes from 18 federations are set to take to the start line in the Brazilian capital, where the event is being staged for the first time. With each nation&rsquo;s top three finishers counting towards the team standings, depth could prove decisive over the new distance.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
China looks particularly well placed in that regard. The trio of Gao Yanlong, Wang Jinxi and He Xianghong have produced the three fastest performances of the season, led by Gao&rsquo;s 3:02:50. Wang (3:03:23) and He (3:04:07) have also shown strong early-season form on the domestic circuit, and with all three capable of finishing well inside the top 10, China may be the team to beat.
However, with the marathon race walk replacing the former 35km and 50km events, several of the sport&rsquo;s most decorated athletes have yet to test themselves over the new distance, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the event.
Japan, silver medallists in the team standings at the last edition over 20km, once again field a balanced line-up led by Hayato Katsuki. The world 35km bronze medallist owns a lifetime best of 2:55:28 and, although he finished sixth over the half marathon distance at the Japanese Championships earlier this season, he is expected to peak for this event. He is supported by Kazuya Iwai and Subaru Ishida, both of whom have shown solid domestic form and could play a crucial role in the team standings.
Germany will look to challenge with an experienced and in-form squad. Christopher Linke, currently ranked fifth in the world, finished third at the Dudinsk&aacute; 50 in March in a personal best of 3:05:44. In the same race, Karl Junghann&szlig; placed second in 3:04:33, the fourth-fastest time recorded this season, underlining his strong form. Alongside emerging talent Johannes Frenzl, Germany has both experience and depth to contend for team honours.
Italy&rsquo;s hopes will largely rest on the experience of Massimo Stano, the Olympic 20km champion in 2021 and world record-holder over 35km. While Stano has yet to record a mark over the new marathon distance, his championship pedigree makes him a major factor. He is joined by Riccardo Orsoni, a consistent performer on the international circuit and national champion, forming part of a team capable of challenging for the podium if they adapt well to the distance.
The winners of the team title in 2024 over 20km, Spain, will aim to remain in contention. Jos&eacute; Manuel P&eacute;rez, the 2021 European U23 champion, has set a mark of 3:09:52 this season, while Daniel Chamosa brings valuable championship experience, including a sixth-place finish at last year&rsquo;s World Championships over 35km. As in previous editions, Spain&rsquo;s strength may lie in collective performance rather than individual dominance.
Among the individual contenders, Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m could also have a significant impact on the race. The multiple global medallist, who has won at the past two editions of this event &ndash; over 20km in 2024 and 35km in 2022, has already impressed this season, winning over the half marathon distance in Dudince and clocking 3:04:50 for the marathon, suggesting he has adapted well to the longer format.
France&rsquo;s Aur&eacute;lien Quinion adds further depth to the field. A regular presence at major championships, he has shown consistent form in recent seasons and will look to guide his team into contention. World 35km champion Evan Dunfee will compete in the half marathon, where the Canadian team has greater depth to challenge for the podium, rather than the marathon.
Annika Saunus for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the men's marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: global medallists in men’s marathon battle

Australia&rsquo;s Isaac Beacroft will head to the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 as the defending champion and pre-event favourite in the U20 men&rsquo;s 10km.
Beacroft made headlines two years ago when, aged just 16, he claimed victory to end a streak of four consecutive Chinese wins in this event. He now has the opportunity to become just the second athlete in the history of the championships to successfully defend the U20 men&rsquo;s title.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
He arrives in Bras&iacute;lia in formidable form, having put together a string of five domestic victories. That run includes a standout 38:02.68 performance over 10,000m in December, taking 44 seconds off a world U20 record that had stood for 25 years.
With a 10km road best of 38:55, Beacroft is not only the fastest U20 entrant in the field but also the fifth fastest U20 performer in history.
Compatriots John Ronan and Owen Toyne add depth to the squad which could prove crucial in the team standings, where Australia will be aiming to improve on the bronze medals they earned in 2014, 2018 and 2024.
China, meanwhile, will once again pose a major threat both individually and collectively. Pu Huajia, Shi Chengxi and Zhang Haoze have all come close to breaking the 40-minute barrier already this year and hold the fastest season&rsquo;s bests in the field.
Japan have also shown consistent strength at this level, claiming team medals at three of the past four editions. Their challenge in Bras&iacute;lia will be led by Toshiya Inoue, winner of the national trial race, alongside Ryuta Tainaka and Daichi Yamada, forming another well-balanced squad with podium ambitions.
Europe&rsquo;s leading individual contender could be France&rsquo;s Clement Rabreau, who will be looking to make amends after his disqualification at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships.
Italy, team silver medallists in 2022, will also be targeting another podium finish. Alessio Coppola, sixth at last year&rsquo;s European U20 Championships and the fastest U20 performer this year over 5000m indoors, is joined by Nicolo Vidal and Christian Cecchetto.
Other contenders include Mexico&rsquo;s Emiliano Barba, the world U20 silver medallist and Pan-American U20 champion, Ireland&rsquo;s Seamus Clarke, the European U18 silver medallist who won the U20 race in Dudince last month, and Spanish duo Cesar Hidalgo and Pablo Zarate.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the U20 men's 10km at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: Beacroft eyes back-to-back U20 titles

There is a sense of the unknown heading into the women&rsquo;s half marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, as the new senior distance makes its championship debut in the Brazilian capital on Sunday (12).
With 74 athletes from 28 federations set to take on the one-kilometre loop course, the race not only marks the first time this competition is staged in South America and the Southern Hemisphere, but also offers an early indication of which athletes are adapting quickest to the slightly longer distance.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
Among those leading the entries is Peru&rsquo;s Kimberly Garc&iacute;a, the double world champion from 2022 and winner of the 20km at these championships in 2024. Garc&iacute;a has made a strong start to 2026, setting a personal best of 1:34:17 at the Dudinsk&aacute; 50 in March, where she finished second. She arrives in Bras&iacute;lia as a clear medal contender.
Another Peruvian to watch is Evelyn Inga, who achieved a surprise victory in Dudince with a personal and South American best of 1:33:49. With the top three finishers from each nation counting towards the team result, Peru will also have their sights set on the team title after missing out on countback in 2024.
China, winners of the team title two years ago, once again fields formidable depth. Ji Haiying leads the entries with her 1:32:22 clocking in Taicang in March, and is closely followed by compatriots Guo Na (1:32:24) and Dou Maocuo (1:32:27). With five of the six fastest entrants, China&rsquo;s collective strength makes them strong favourites in the team standings.
Spain&rsquo;s Ant&iacute;a Chamosa is another athlete in form. The 26-year-old won the Spanish title earlier this year with a PB of 1:33:45. She has demonstrated steady progression in recent years, placing seventh over 20km at least year&rsquo;s World Championships, and will look to carry that consistency into the new distance.
Poland&rsquo;s Katarzyna Zdziebło, double world silver medallist in 2022, brings significant championship experience. She has not yet registered a mark for the half marathon distance, but her ability to deliver in tactical championship races makes her a serious contender.
Australia will be led by Rebecca Henderson, who claimed the national title with a personal best of 1:32:25 just weeks ago, making her one of the fastest women in the field. Teammate Olivia Sandery, second at those championships in 1:34:09, adds further depth and could play an important role in both the individual and team contests.
Other athletes to watch include Mexico&rsquo;s Alejandra Ortega, who finished third in Dudince, and France&rsquo;s Pauline Stey, 10th in the world rankings. Still relatively new to the global stage, she has shown the ability to compete with more established names and will be aiming to break into the leading group.
Italy&rsquo;s Nicole Colombi has entered both the half marathon and marathon race walk events but has yet to decide which distance she will contest.
Notably absent from the field are Spain&rsquo;s double world champion Mar&iacute;a P&eacute;rez and Italy&rsquo;s 2021 Olympic champion Antonella Palmisano, leaving the door open for new names to step on to the podium over the newly established distance.
Annika Saunus for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the women's half marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: García, Inga and Zdziebło target women’s half marathon honours

The men&rsquo;s half marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 looks set to provide the most thrilling contest of the weekend.
Contested for the first time at a global race walking championships, the half marathon distance has attracted an exceptional line-up, including two world record-holders, both individual world champions from the 2025 World Championships, two of the three members of the 20km podium from the last edition of these championships, and multiple global medallists.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
At the centre of the individual battle is Brazil&rsquo;s Caio Bonfim, the world 20km champion who will spearhead the home team. Competing on familiar roads and backed by home support, the Olympic silver medallist started his 2026 campaign with a comfortable half marathon victory in Brasilia. He followed that with a 1:21:44 half marathon PB to place fifth in Kobe in February, then was runner-up in Taicang in 1:23:00 last month.
Japan&rsquo;s Toshikazu Yamanishi, a two-time world champion and the world record-holder for both 20km and the half marathon, will be particularly motivated. After finishing an uncharacteristic 28th at the 2025 World Championships on home soil, he will be looking to reassert himself at the highest level and reclaim the top spot on the podium, having won the 20km at these championships in 2022.
He is supported by a formidable Japanese squad, all of whom are currently in the top 10 in the world rankings and have achieved top-eight finishes at past World Championships: Kento Yoshikawa, the Asian silver medallist who finished seventh at the 2025 World Championships; Tomohiro Noda, sixth over 35km at the 2023 World Championships; and Satoshi Maruo, fourth over 50km at the 2017 World Championships.
That depth makes Japan a clear favourite in the team standings as they seek to reclaim the title they last won in 2018. But the battle for team honours is expected to be intense, with defending champions Spain, along with China and Australia, all capable of mounting serious challenges.
Spain&rsquo;s hopes will be led by world bronze medallist Paul McGrath and Diego Garc&iacute;a Carrera, both of whom finished on the podium in the 20km at the last edition of these championships. With the addition of Alvaro Lopez and 2015 world champion Miguel Angel Lopez, Spain&rsquo;s depth makes them a major force once again.
Italy also arrives with a well-balanced team led by European bronze medallist Francesco Fortunato, who claimed gold in the marathon race walk mixed relay at the last edition of these championships. Fortunato started his year in dazzling form, setting a world record for the 5000m race walk, and is joined by Gianluca Picchiottino, who finished 12th in the 20km at the last edition of these championships.
China&rsquo;s quartet of Zhao Xiangfei, Zhang Xinrui, Ding Shuo and Cui Lihong brings formidable depth, with all four athletes having clocked times well inside 1:24 in Taicang last month. If they&rsquo;re able to replicate that depth in Brasilia, they could make it on to the team podium once more.
Australia&rsquo;s challenge will be led by Commonwealth silver medallist Declan Tingay, who finished eighth over 20km at the 2023 World Championships. He is joined by Rhydian Cowley, the Olympic bronze medallist in the marathon race walk mixed relay, giving Australia both experience and proven championship pedigree.
Canada&rsquo;s Evan Dunfee, the world 35km champion, adds further weight to the field. Although he is working his way back from an off-season injury and has indicated he may not yet be at his peak, Dunfee&rsquo;s experience and proven ability to deliver in championship settings make him a formidable contender.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s African champion Misgana Wakuma, who finished sixth over 20km at the Olympic Games, recently set an African best of 38:04.09 for 10,000m and will be looking to improve on his 10th-place finish from the last edition of these championships.
African 20km record-holder Samuel Gathimba, third at these championships in 2022 and fourth at the World Championships that same year, brings further experience. He is joined on the Kenyan team by 2021 world U20 champion Heristone Wanyonyi Wafula, who returns to competition for the first time since June 2024.
T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s Salih Korkmaz, fifth over 20km at the 2019 World Championships, is another one to watch.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the men's half marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: clash of global titans in men's half marathon

China have won four of the past five team titles in the U20 women&rsquo;s 10km and the strength of their squad indicates that they should challenge again at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26&nbsp;on Sunday (12).
They won&rsquo;t start as the defending champions, however, as Spain clinched the crown in Antalya two years ago, becoming only the third nation after China and Russia to win this team title.
<div><a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-team-championshi/brasilia26/where-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69d90ef75e2d07eb4b859bd9.jpg" alt="WRW Brasilia 26 where to watch" /></a></div>
But China&rsquo;s team boasts three of the six fastest women in the field and they will each be looking to follow in the footsteps of their compatriot Yang Xizhen who won the individual title at the last edition in 2024.
Wang Yaru leads that trio on times. The 16-year-old won both the U18 5km and 10km events at the Chinese Race Walking Grand Prix in Taicang at the start of March, setting a PB of 44:31 for the longer distance. But it was Yang Yutong who won the U20 title in Taicang and the 19-year-old will want to build on the PB of 44:49 she set that day.
They will be joined in Bras&iacute;lia by 18-year-old Ni Lihua who finished third in that Taicang U20 10km won by Yang, in a PB of 45:24. All three athletes will be making their international debuts.
Chlo&eacute; Le Roch sits at the top of the entry list and heads to Bras&iacute;lia with the benefit of global experience. The 18-year-old set a French U20 record of 44:02 when finishing second at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Poděbrady last year and she was just 14 seconds off that mark when winning a national event in Lens last month. Aged 16, she finished eighth in the 10,000m race walk at the World U20 Championships in Lima in 2024, four months after finishing 18th in the U20 event in Antalya.
Italy&rsquo;s Serena Di Fabio also set a national record at the European Race Walking Team Championships last year, clocking 44:08 to finish one place behind Le Roch. She has gone close to that mark this year, too, winning her national title last month in 44:17. As well as her podium finish in Poděbrady, Di Fabio secured silver on the track at last year&rsquo;s European Championships and the then 16-year-old finished seventh at the last edition of the World Race Walking Team Championships, clinching team bronze for Italy and achieving the leading individual performance by athletes eligible to return for this year&rsquo;s edition.
Suzu Okuno also performed well in Antalya two years ago, finishing 13th in a PB of 46:32. She returns to race for Japan, as part of a squad led by Yuna Uchiyama who set a PB of 44:46 to win the national event in Kobe in February. Harumi Tabata, who was fourth that day, completes the Japanese squad that will also be fighting for the team podium.
Italy could also have strong team prospects, as Di Fabio is joined by Valentina Adamo and Francesca Gloria Buselli who completed the podium at their national championships in respective PBs of 46:48 and 47:02.
Gina Torres leads Spain&rsquo;s team title defence after winning the national U20 crown in a PB of 47:03 in February, while Şerife Berra G&uuml;ven and İpek &Ouml;zkavlak race for T&uuml;rkiye.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Hiwot Ambaw makes her road debut after racing in the 10,000m race walk at the 2024 World U20 Championships and winning the national title in 46:22.07 at the end of March.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Expected highlights in the U20 women's 10km at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília

WRW Brasília 26 preview: Le Roch and Di Fabio lead entries, China aim to regain U20 team title

Entry lists have been published for the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26, with 333 athletes from 40 countries set to compete in the Brazilian capital on 12 April.
Download: <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69c50e48ea4df9c9b65e2816.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entries by event and season&rsquo;s best</a> <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69c50e5dea4df9c9b65e2819.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entries by federation</a>
The competition will feature 114 women and 140 men competing in the new standard senior race walking distances &ndash; half marathon and marathon &ndash; for the first time at a World Athletics Series event. Meanwhile, 39 women and 40 men will compete in the U20 races over 10km.
The men&rsquo;s half marathon entries are led by world 20km champion Caio Bonfim, who headlines the host nation&rsquo;s team. Competing on home roads in Bras&iacute;lia, he will take on Canada&rsquo;s world 35km champion Evan Dunfee and two-time world champion Toshikazu Yamanishi of Japan, as well as two of the top three from the 20km at the last edition of these championships &ndash; Spain&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Paul McGrath and his compatriot Diego Garc&iacute;a Carrera.
The men&rsquo;s marathon field is also packed with global medallists. Italy&rsquo;s 2021 Olympic 20km champion and 35km world record-holder Massimo Stano lines up alongside Sweden&rsquo;s multiple world medallist Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m, Japan&rsquo;s world 35km bronze medallist Hayato Katsuki and multiple German record-holder Christopher Linke.
In the women&rsquo;s half marathon, Peru&rsquo;s 2022 double world champion Kimberly Garc&iacute;a leads the entries. She will face Poland&rsquo;s Katarzyna Zdzieblo, who claimed world silver at both distances behind Garcia in 2022, and Spanish champion Antia Chamosa.
The women&rsquo;s marathon features Ecuador&rsquo;s world 35km bronze medallist Paula Torres, Italy&rsquo;s 2019 world bronze medallist Eleonora Giorgi and Brazil&rsquo;s South American 20km champion Viviane Lyra, another one of the host nation&rsquo;s medal hopes.
Two athletes &ndash; Venezuela&rsquo;s Pedro Marquez Pereira and Italy&rsquo;s Nicole Colombi &ndash; have been entered in both senior events and will decide closer to the time which distance to contest.
The championships will be held in the Brazilian capital, marking the first time the event has taken place in South America and the Southern Hemisphere.
Event-by-event previews will be published on the World Athletics website on 7-8 April.
World Athletics

333 athletes from 40 countries are set to compete in the Brazilian capital on 12 April

Entry lists published for Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26

With 30 days to go until the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26, the competition&rsquo;s organising committee and World Athletics have revealed the medals that will be awarded to all athletes who reach the podium in the Brazilian capital.&nbsp;
The pieces were inspired by characteristic concepts. The embossed details highlight Brazilian identity, the works of architect Oscar Niemeyer, and Bras&iacute;lia&rsquo;s landmarks.
Niemeyer, alongside L&uacute;cio Costa, was the great architect behind the construction of Bras&iacute;lia &ndash; a city inaugurated in 1960. Both were responsible for planning all urban projects and public buildings.
"Bras&iacute;lia was built to unite the nation of Brazil and we want the 2026 World Race Walking Team Championships to bring people together in the same spirit,&rdquo; said Brazilian Athletics Confederation President Wlamir Motta Campos. "The medals aim to bring together key elements of Brazilian culture and pay tribute to those who built this sense of belonging."
The tribute also extends to race walker Caio Bonfim, an icon of Brazilian sports who was born and raised in the region. Bonfim will be the main star of the competition, where he will try to extend his streak of achievements, which includes silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and gold and silver at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.&nbsp;
The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26, taking place on 12 April, is organised by CBAt and World Athletics, with sponsorship from CAIXA and the Government of the Federal District, and supported by the Athletics Federation of the Federal District and the Brazilian Olympic Committee.&nbsp;

The medals that will be awarded to all athletes who reach the podium in the Brazilian capital have been revealed

Medals unveiled for Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26

The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26 unveiled its official poster on Friday (30) following an online vote by athletics fans from around the world.
The chosen poster will be the official visual of the event, which will take place on 12 April in Brazil&rsquo;s capital &ndash; marking the first time a world championship of this magnitude will be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
Voting began on 27 January, with fans able to cast their choices via the social media channels of the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26. The poll closed three days later, and the public&rsquo;s favourite has now been announced.
The winning design features a race walker in the foreground and blends cultural elements of Bras&iacute;lia into the background, highlighting the city&rsquo;s architecture and its iconic landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Bras&iacute;lia, the Candangos Sculpture, the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge and the National Congress Palace. In addition, it reinforces the competition&rsquo;s slogan: &ldquo;Bras&iacute;lia is ready to race walk with the world.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/697ccd8c5d5593fb0faa38c1.png" alt="Official poster for the WRW Brasilia 26" />
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Official poster for the WRW Brasilia 26
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&ldquo;Seeing such strong participation from fans and the international athletics community in choosing the official poster of the Bras&iacute;lia World Championships only demonstrates that World Athletics made the right decision in bringing this unprecedented competition to Brazil. We are already noticing a great deal of support for the event, and we hope all this success is confirmed on 12 April,&rdquo; said Brazilian Athletics Confederation (CBAt) President Wlamir Motta Campos.
The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Bras&iacute;lia 26 is organised by CBAt in partnership with the Government of the Federal District, under the supervision of World Athletics. Caixa is the competition&rsquo;s title partner and the event will be broadcast to all territories globally &ndash; in Brazil, the broadcasting rights belong to TV Globo and SporTV.
</div>

The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26 unveiled its official poster on Friday

World Race Walking Team Championships selects official poster after public vote

The local organising committee for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 has unveiled the event&rsquo;s logo, which captures the energy, colour and landscapes of the host city.
The logo for the championships features some of Brasilia&rsquo;s most iconic landmarks, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress building and the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, all pictured in Brazil&rsquo;s unmistakable colours: green, yellow and blue.
&ldquo;It will be the first time ever that a global race walking competition has been held in Latin America,&rdquo; said Wlamir Motta Campos, President of the Brazilian Track and Field Federation (CBAt). &ldquo;Brazil is honoured to host the world in its capital, especially as Brasilia is the hometown of Olympic silver medallist Caio Bonfim, a true national icon.
&ldquo;The logo helps to connect the organisation, the athletics community and fans to showcase this major event we are all going to see next year.&rdquo;
The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, which is being organised by CBAt with support from the government of Federal District, will take place on 12 April 2026.
The World Race Walking Team Championships is one of the oldest World Athletics Series events. First staged in 1961, the event is held every two years with medals being awarded for individuals and teams across six races: four for senior athletes (men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s 20km and 35km) and two for U20 athletes (men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s 10km). More than 400 athletes from about 50 countries are expected to compete in Brasilia.
This, the 31st edition, will be the first time the championships have been held in South America. It&rsquo;s also the first global athletics event held in Brazil since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Fans interested in receiving up-to-date information can subscribe at <a href="https://worldathletics.org/worldathletics-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worldathletics.org/worldathletics-plus</a>.
World Athletics

The local organising committee for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 has unveiled the event’s logo, which captures the energy, colour and landscapes of the host city.

Logo unveiled for WRW Brasilia 26

World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships

Athlete biographies

Timetable

Documents

World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26

García wins half marathon as Ukraine edge closest team battle in Brasília

Fortunato triumphs in gripping men’s half marathon in Brasília

Japan’s Katsuki dominates to secure individual and team marathon titles in Brasilia

Marathon winner Torres leads Ecuador to gold in Brasilia

Yang claims U20 women's individual and team honours in Brasilia