Spain's two-time world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Pérez won gold in the first-ever Olympic mixed relay marathon and race walk on Wednesday. The mixed relay will be featured for the first time at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics, replacing the 50km race walk. Ecuador and Australia won silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Athletes taking part in the mixed marathon and race walk relay event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (AFP) {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}}
However, some spectators claimed that a few athletes had violated the rules by leaving their feet off the ground on the walking track.
“I can't believe the participants in the walking race aren't cheating, they look like they're jogging,” said X user Wullie M.
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“Nothing pisses me off more than race-walking cheaters,” said sports journalist Rob Williams.
“Cheat, cheat, cheat! No wonder #TeamAustralia won the women's mixed relay final. Easily outrunning everyone. She's definitely jogging. You could tell from a mile away. Please,” another user, Pete Childs, wrote to X.
What do the rules of race walking say?
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The rules state that one foot of the athlete must be visibly in contact with the ground at all times.
Additionally, the knee of the athlete's leading leg must not be bent and the leg must be straight as the body passes over it. Each race walker is carefully judged and can be penalized for bending the knee during the race.
India's Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Goswami were unable to compete.
India's marathon and race walk mixed relay team, consisting of Suraj Panwar and Priyanka Goswami, failed to complete the mixed relay final on Wednesday.
(Related Article: Priyanka Goswami criticised for sharing Instagram Reel video after finishing 41st at Paris Olympics)
The Indian team received multiple warnings throughout the race and were ultimately disqualified, a major setback for the Indian athletics team which was hoping to perform well in the Games.
{{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} News / Trends / “Race Walk Cheaters”: Olympic Viewers Accuse Athletes of Breaking Marathon Rules
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