Toshikazu Yamanishi and Antonella Palmisano
One of the most iconic streets of Madrid, Gran Vía, will be the venue for the Gran Premio Internacional Madrid Marcha Silbö Telecom – the last Gold event of this season’s World Athletics Race Walking Tour – on Sunday (6).
Before the races get under way, Spain’s world and Olympic champion Álvaro Martín will receive a warm tribute shortly after announcing his retirement. Two-time European medallist Diego Garcia, Martin’s long-time domestic rival, will again be the driving force behind Sunday' competition as the elite athlete coordinator.
The men’s and women’s 10km races, which will be held at the same time over a one-kilometre circuit, feature race walkers from 15 different countries.
Two-time world champion Toshikazu Yamanishi is among the leading contenders in the men’s race. The 28-year-old from Japan is fresh from a commanding 38:27:34 victory over 10,000m two weeks ago in Yamaguchi. The 2021 Olympic bronze medallist missed out on earning selection for the Paris Games at the highly competitive Japanese Trials, but he rebounded in La Coruna in May when he won in 1:17:47, beating the three men who went on to earn the medals in Paris.
Yamanishi’s toughest opposition will come from the three podium finishers at this year’s European Championships: Sweden’s Perseus Karlström, Spain’s Paul Mc Grath and Italy’s Francesco Fortunato.
Karlstrom took the individual 20km title at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in April but then finished 21st in Paris.
“I’m happy with the season overall, and despite the complications at the Olympics, I would still rate this season my best one to date,” said Karlstrom, who holds the course record in Madrid at 38:42. “I have never had this high level of competitiveness before and managed to win most of my races. I competed in Rome after catching Covid and fortunately it only blew up after the race. But then I also suffered first a viral infection and then a sinus infection just a few days before the Olympics, that’s the reason I could not compete well there.
“Madrid is a great race, I really love it as It showcases my discipline in the centre of a big city and makes the race easily accessible for the audience, which is key to gather big crowds,” added the world silver medallist. “Obviously I’m not still at my peak at this early stage of the season but 10km makes it doable and very exciting and intense.”
Fortunato, the winner in Madrid last year, competed over 10,000m in Modena two weeks ago with a 39:46.88 winning performance. He will be joined by his compatriot Gianluca Picchiottino, a 1:20:46 performer who placed 12th in Antalya.
Also watch out for Diego García, runner-up here in 2022 and the third-place finisher in Antalya, who’ll be combining roles as organiser and athlete. His training mate Álvaro López, who set a 20km lifetime best of 1:20.20 in Antalya, should also contend for a top-five berth.
The women’s event features European champion Antonella Palmisano and Colombia’s Sandra Lorena Arenas.
The 33-year-old Italian will be eager to improve on her 13th place from last year when she resumed competition after a string of injuries in 2022. The world bronze medallist enjoyed an emphatic win in front of her home crowd at the European Championships in Rome in July but was forced to drop out of the 20km at the Paris Olympics with just seven kilometres to go.
Arenas will be competing in Madrid for the first time. The 2021 Olympic silver medallist finished fourth at this year’s Games in Paris, but was rewarded with a PB of 1:27:03. She and Palmisano could have their eye on Qieyang Shenjie’s course record of 43:07.
Spanish hopes rest with Laura García-Caro. The 29-year-old was seventh at the Paris Olympics and fourth at the European Championships, having been overtaken just inches before the finish line. She will be joined by compatriots Antía Chamosa and 2022 European 35km silver medallist Raquel González.
Weather forecasters predict a partially cloudy day, with the temperature about 22°C by the time of the event.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
