Racewalking: Caio Bonfim bags Warsaw gold, meets Olympic standard
Caio Bonfim on Sunday (Apr. 23) secured his participation in the Olympics for the fourth time. He beat the standard (1min20s10) in the Warsaw stage of the World Athletic Walking Circuit by winning the 20km race in 1min19s23, earning him the gold medal.
Another shining star was Érica Sena, from Pernambuco state, who won silver in the women’s 20km race, completing the course in 1min30s19.
The Olympic standard for the sport is established by World Athletics. The spots for Paris 2024 are nominal and the deadline for nailing the standard is June 20, 2024.
Caio Bonfim set the best time in the 2nd Korzeniowski Warsaw Race Walking, held around Warsaw’s National Stadium, leaving behind Ecuador’s Brian Pintado, who took silver (1min19s58) and Mexico’s Isaac Palma, who bagged bronze (1min21s47).
“It was a remarkable result, excellent for the beginning of the season,” celebrated coach Gianetti Sena Bonfim. The athlete had already won silver when he debuted in the Dudince stage of the world circuit, in Slovakia.
In the women’s competition, Érica Sena came close to the Olympic standard (1min29s20) and narrowly missed winning the gold, which went to Peruvian Kimberly Garcia (1min30s16). The third place went to German Saskia Feige (1min31s25).
“I did 1mins30s19 and I’m very happy to have done so well in the race. The circuit is difficult; it feels as if you were always on a curve, going around the stadium,” said the athlete. She will also compete in the GP of Rio Maior, Portugal, and La Coruña, Spain.
Also among the women, Brazil’s Gabriela Muniz came in seventh place, with 1min35s37.
