Race results & historic
World rankings
Sports enthusiasts with a deep interest in athletics and in particular in race walking, have with dismay and regret, through the media, taken knowledge of the removal of the 50 km Race walk from the program of the Olympic Games as from Paris 2024.
However, there are three elements that can defend the preservation of this discipline on the list of the Summer Olympics:
a. the beauty of the discipline by the challenge of the strenuous physical exertion/ effort
b. playing a pioneering role in the promotion of recreational walking
c. the popularity and the easy accessibility of the sport in many countries
Human values such as respect and recognition in conjunction with feelings of pride for athletes who could complete the discipline "50 km race walk" under the 4h-barrier at an average speed of +/- 13 km/h, are a basis to consider the preservation of this discipline on the international calendar.
Testimonies from former race walkers contribute to create a good understanding into the physical and technical aspects of the track/ discipline.
Below, a quote from the haunting testimony of Nunn, a former athlete from the USA.
According to John Nunn, a former athlete from the USA, the 50 km race walk is the most grueling event at the Games. And this statement could be true. "I would like to debate this with everyone" Nunn said in an interview with NBA journalist Rodger Sherman.
The 50 km race walk is a true test for the endurance of the human body. Many race walkers who reach the finish line almost immediately fall to the ground and receive some form of medical assistance.
Nunn finished in 43rd place at the Games in Rio (2016) at more than half an hour behind Olympic champion Matej Toth from Slovakia who covered the 50 km in 3 h 40' 58".
Nunn begins to weep after the finish, not out of disappointment but because he had the willpower to not give up and out of self-respect for the effort he had to put in.
Thanks to the positive social impact of top performances in sport, such as generating joy and pride, strengthening national identity and encouraging movement, race walking can serve as platform for the promotion of recreational walking.
If you want to go through life in a healthy way (lifestyle), you have to exercise after all regularly or to do a lot of sport.
Recreational walking is:
♦ a path to an active and a healthy lifestyle
♦ a sensible approach to get rid of problems
♦ quality family time
♦ a support for a slimming diet
♦ a good form of team building
Impact of remarkable sports performances
Race walking can, via the impact of remarkable sports performances of well-known race walkers, inspire people of any age who have the intention to reduce their sedentary time, inspire to movement and thus contribute to an improvement of the general welfare of the population.
Additional information
Further information about:
♦ start to walk
♦ categories walking sport
can be found on the sport site of the Belgian Walking Association, abbreviated BWA, via the following page: https://www.belgianwalkingassociation.com/en/start-to-walk
A not insignificant motive for the return of the iconic discipline to the international calendar is the popularity and the easy accessibility of the sport in many countries which guarantees strong competition. The Olympic podium in the history of race walking is the confirmation of this.
Theo Bické
Belgian Walking Association, abbreviated BWA
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