Athletics-Perez pulls away to give Spain gold in race walk relay

PARIS - Spain's two-times world champions Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez took the first ever gold medal in the mixed marathon race walk relay by nearly a minute at the Paris Games on Wednesday as the event made its Olympic debut.

The Spaniards, who each collected individual gold in both the 20km and 35km races at last year's worlds in Budapest, finished in two hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds, with Perez pulling away over the final lap.

She made a case in the post-race press conference for keeping walking in the Olympics amid concern the discipline is losing popularity and could be phased out.

"We have already shown that race walking has to be in all the Olympic Games. We have shown that we can make people (celebrate) with us and suffer with us, and also to the public who are watching us from home," she said. "I think race walking is really making its place in the Olympic program, it deserves the recognition."

The victory gives Spain three Olympic medals in Paris, with Perez winning silver in the women's 20km a week earlier and Alvaro taking bronze in the men's race.

"I started the year with a very long injury (a stress fracture), I almost had to undergo surgery and it's almost a miracle that I'm here," Perez said. "What I have learned from that few months is that little details are very important, and I also don't take anything for granted."

Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon of Ecuador took silver in 2:51.22, while Australia's Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag claimed bronze (2:51:38).

Spain and Ecuador led virtually from the off, initially as part of a group of eight that had become two by the final leg.

Just three seconds separated the two teams when Martin and Perez smacked hands for the exchange.

Perez found another gear over the final leg, and then a kilometre from the finish line, she ditched her sunglasses, smiled and high-fived flag-waving Spanish fans who created a thunderous celebration by banging on cardboard course dividers.

Ecuador held on for silver, the country's seventh all-time Olympic medal, despite a nervy last leg for Morejon.

Pintado had picked up two red cards -- shown when a walker has either lost significant contact with the ground or a knee is bent when the foot strikes the ground.

A third red would have meant Morejon would have had to pull in to serve a three-minute penalty.

"You've had a great performance in these Olympic Games at the end of the day, you're also writing history for your own countries," Pintado told the Spanish team in the press conference.

"We're all fighting for race walking in the world, you are doing it. We're here with you. And honestly, we're very happy. I'm happy that my children can see me on TV, and my family is happy. I think everybody's satisfied with what we've achieved."

That red-card fate befell Chinese pair Zhang Jun and Yang Jiayu, winner of the women's 20km earlier in the Games, when Zhang was flagged with a disastrous third red card.

"Just continue to work hard," Yang said, when asked what she would say to Zhang. "Don't be beaten by this failure. Take the experience from this, improve yourself.

"I believe that we are the best. He did well today. We wanted to bring glory to China in this new event, and maybe we were a little too anxious."

The relay, which replaced the men's 50km, saw two athletes per team -- one male, one female -- each complete two legs that looped back and forth at the base of the Eiffel Tower to total the traditional 42.195 km marathon distance.

The new event posed a unique challenge with athletes having to stay fresh during their 40 or so minutes between legs. REUTERS