Overview

• Pérez pulled away after the 16 km mark in Tokyo, dropping Mexico’s Alegna González and Japan’s Fujii to secure gold as González took silver and Fujii earned bronze.
• She disclosed she had suffered an acute pubalgia caused by dehydration after the 35 km race and competed following monitored pain management by her technical team.
• Staff members Ángel García and Jesús Rodríguez Huertas discussed the suitability of the analgesic used and praised her exceptional recovery capacity.
• Friend and rival Antonella Palmisano withdrew from the 20 km, waited at the finish to embrace Pérez, and lauded her as one of the day’s standout athletes.
• The victory brings Pérez to four world titles, matching Liu Hong’s tally in women’s race walking as World Athletics prepares to shift race-walk distances toward marathon and half-marathon formats next season; family and friends celebrated overnight at her Granada home.