Legendary double of María Pérez in the Tokyo World Cup

The 29 -year -old Granada march won the 20 km test with another power exhibition and is already the best Spanish athlete in history

María Pérez won her second gold medal of the 2025 World Cup, this time in the 20 km march. The 29 -year -old grenadine completed a legendary deed to place itself, on its own merits, as the best marching in history and the best Spanish athlete. His domain was so huge that, despite the wear of the 35 km march of the previous Saturday, he was able to beat rivals who only competed in the 20 km, cooler and more rested. The Galician Antía Chamosa finished seventh with 1h27'55, the best mark of her life. The Catalan Paula Juárez finished the 22nd with 1h31'50.

María Pérez departed with the prudence of knowing that the accumulated wear of the 35 kilometers could take its toll in a shorter test, but with a more demanding rhythm. The first kilometers were from Tanteo, let the rivals take the initiative. His duties were already made, the 35 km gold medal gave him the peace of mind of having fulfilled and the pressure was lower. Tokyo's temperature dropped ten degrees with respect to the previous days and that favored the marchers.

In the head group there were five marcadoras, the Spanish, Alegna González, Kimberly García León, Nanako Fujii and Quanming Wu. The Italian Antonella Pamisano had to withdraw due to physical problems, but became more support for Maria from the area of avituallamientos. As they pass through km 15, the Granada and the Mexican Alegna raised the rhythm and left the rest of the rivals cut. A kilometer later, María dealt with the definitive change that ended up releasing Alegna, to stay alone and be able to with authority with 1h25 ″ 54. “This is Jacinto's dream (coach) and dreams are to fulfill them. The important thing is that I have the best team and that I have it at home. I can say that I am happy and the word happiness is above all,” added the Spanish referring to the good work done with Jacinto Garzón in the concentrations in the altitude of Livingno (Alpes), Font-Romeu (Pyrenees) and Barcelona.

Horizontal — María Pérez celebrated her second medal at the World Cup in Tokyo

Franck Robichon / EFE

The Spanish march adds 23 medals of the 47 of Spanish athletics in the history of the World Cups, with nine golds of Valentí Massana, Chuso García Bragado, Miguel Ángel López, Álvaro Martín and María Pérez.

With the results of Tokyo, María Pérez already has the best palmarés of Spanish athletics and world march with an Olympic gold and silver, four world golds, a European gold and a record of the 35 km world still in force. «I will continue marching. I am very proud of what I achieved in the Games of Paris 2024, but my maximum illusion is to be an individual Olympic champion and I will give everything to achieve it in Los Angeles 2028 »Granada said before the Spanish media displaced to Tokyo.