Yamanishi Sets New World Record in 20km Race Walk at Kobe Event | World Athletics Report

Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi set a stunning new world record in the men’s 20km race walk, finishing with a time of 1:16:10 at the Japanese 20km Race Walking Championships in Kobe. This performance not only earned him the victory but also broke the previous record of 1:16:36, held by Yusuke Suzuki since 2015.

Throughout the race, Yamanishi appeared relaxed and even shared a laugh with other competitors in the last kilometre. After crossing the finish line, he took a moment to bow in respect to the four directions, a tradition that highlights his sportsmanship and connection to the sport.

The 29-year-old two-time world champion faced a challenging year in 2023, which kept him from qualifying for the upcoming Paris Olympics. However, winning the World Race Walking Tour in La Coruna earlier this year boosted his confidence. At that event, he recorded a time of 1:17:47 against tough competition.

On the day of the race in Kobe, conditions were cool and rainy, with a temperature around 7 degrees Celsius. Many athletes wore arm warmers as they began, and Yamanishi quickly took the lead. He and his main competitors maintained a brisk pace, reaching the first kilometre in 3:48.

The field began to narrow as the race progressed. By the time they hit the 5km mark, Yamanishi was part of a small group leading the way, with a split time of 19:09. As they pushed past halfway, the pace intensified, and Yamanishi started to pull away, creating a noticeable gap of 12 seconds by the end of the next lap.

At 15km, he clocked 57:24, leaving his closest rivals, Satoshi Maruo and Ryo Hamanishi, trailing behind by 24 seconds. Yamanishi continued to dominate as he navigated through lapped competitors, showing remarkable focus. As he neared the finish, it was clear he would set the world record.

Maruo finished strongly as well, achieving a personal best but still finishing behind Yamanishi. Both athletes earned spots on Japan’s team for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.

On the women’s side, the race also saw a remarkable performance from Nanako Fujii, who set a new national record of 1:26:33. This surpassed the previous record held by Kumiko Okada, who finished second with a time of 1:28:17, just missing the qualifying standard for the World Championships by 17 seconds.

Fujii’s race was eventful as she broke away from the pack early on, completing the first 5km in a swift 21:43, well ahead of her competitors. By the halfway mark, she was on track and maintaining her lead, clocking 43:25, while Okada followed close behind. The faster pace allowed the women to benefit from lapped male competitors, contributing to their finishing times.

Although Fujii felt the strain in the last laps, there was no doubt she would claim victory and make history as well. Her performance solidified her status as a top athlete in race walking.

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