Poland's Dawid Tomala won the gold medal with a timing of 3:50:08 followed by Jonathan Hilbert and Evan Dunffee in the 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
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Gurpreet Singh drops out of 50km race walk event at Tokyo Olympics 2020 due to cramps. He competed for around 35km before dropping out because of cramps due to grueling heat and humidity. The 38-year-old Indian was in the 49th position after 25km with a timing of 2:01:54. Meanwhile, the race was won by Poland’s Dawid Tomala. Germany’s Jonathan Hilbert clinched the silver medal followed by Canada’s Evan Dunffee.
Tomala took control of the race after the 30km mark and never surrendered the lead. In fact, at one point the 31-year-old even took a 3-minute lead despite looking in incredible discomfort. But soon a smile of relief replaced the discomfort as he crossed the finish line and became the Olympics champion. And Tomala finished the race with a timing of 3:50:08.
Hilbert followed the champions, crossing the finish line with a timing of 3:50:44. Dunffee completed the race with a timing of 3:50:59.
Earlier on Thursday, KT Irfan, Sandeep Kumar and Rahul had a disappointing show in the men’s 20km race walk event. Sandeep came up with the best performance as he finished 23rd. Rahul and Irfan finished at 47th and 52nd spot respectively.
Gurpreet was a late addition to the Indian contingent for Tokyo Olympics on the basis of ranking secured and meeting the quota set. The walker had won the men’s race walk event at the 8th National championship in February 2021.
The Punjabi walker came into the race with a world ranking of 104 and his personal best in the event is 3:59:42 which he achieved in Ranchi earlier this year.
The Army man hasn’t won any international events yet but his maiden appearance at the Olympics at the age of 38 is the result of hard work, passion and perseverance.
The 50km race walk is the longest event on the Olympic programme. It is the only athletic event at a major competition still contested by only men. Meanwhile, the 50km race walk event became part of the Olympics in 1932. It was not contested in the 1976 Montreal Games.
KT Irfan was the first race walker to qualify for the Olympics when he qualified for the London Olympics 2012. He finished at a creditable 10th position in the 20km race walk event. Irfan also qualified for Rio Olympics 2016 but failed to participate because of stress fracture.
France’s Yohann Diniz created the world record in the 50km race walk event in 2014. The record was set in Zurich when he completed the race with a timing of 3:32:33. Meanwhile, the Olympic record id held by Australia’s Jared Tallent with a timing of 3:36:53. The Australian achieved the record during London Olympics 2012.
