Mara Pérez arrived at the mixed zone with a visible limp but with a smile capable of illuminating the sky of Orce, that small municipality in Granada that gave birth to the world champion today 27 years ago.
The Spanish press was waiting for its heroine but before it was time to hug Jacinto Garznthe man who has shaped the 20km world champion marches with the patience of a monk and the expertise of a surgeon.
It was an eternal and heartfelt hug, in which María shed numerous tears, aware of how much she owes to her coach, while regaling her ear with phrases that María will keep forever like gold on a cloth.
“I had to go back and that happened because I didn’t blame anyone. It was my fault and that is how I have assumed it, working and going through a hard and lonely time. I owed this to the people and I have done it”, recounted Mara, recalling the two disqualifications for irregular march last year.
It was my fault and that is how I have assumed it, working and going through a hard and lonely time. I owed people this and I’ve done it
“I only have words of gratitude to my family, my work team, my friends and especially Beatriz Pascual and Josep Marn, for helping me and accompanying me in the last training sessions at Font Romeu. I knew how I was and I just had to wait for my moment,” said this force of nature named María Pérez.
The Andalusian confessed that the victory, almost insultingly forceful, could be compromised by a physical problem: “I have enjoyed the whole race but it is true that when I gave the ax blow at kilometer 15 I felt a strain on my hamstrings. At that moment I told myself that there was no pain and I had to die in the race, hold out until the end. In the end dreams come true“.
I enjoyed the whole race but it is true that when I hacked at kilometer 15 I felt a strain on my hamstrings. At that moment I told myself that there was no pain and I had to die in the race, hold out until the end
The European champion in Berlin 2018 explained her angry gesture with the tape when she reached the finish line: “I already did it when I won in Podbrady -there I broke the world record of 35- and I have remembered. Yesterday Álvaro (Martín) said it, that you had to get rid of the taste of the chocolates of the Tokyo Games (both were fourth) and I think there was no better way than this. I hope we continue with this same streak in Paris 2024″.
Mara admitted that she expected more resistance from the Chinese: “I saw that they were cheering and my breath was fresher so I played my cards by going to the front and behind the group. Although I am also going to participate in 35, my big goal has always been 20, which in the end is the Olympic test. Now I have a world gold that no Spanish marcher had achieved”.
To burn Budapest… but after 35
The woman from Granada will not celebrate her title today to prepare well for the 35th, which will take place next Thursday, August 24 at 07:00 in the morning: “There will be no party today. I think it will be on Thursday, when the 35th ends. That night we will burn Budapest. Now I have to recover, go through medical services and assess everything.”
Now I have a world gold that no Spanish marcher had achieved
The Spaniard was perhaps referring to those discomforts in the hamstring she was talking about earlier: “Yes, I think it is in the insertion of the hamstring of the left leg. Hopefully it’s nothing and I can participate in 35“.
The tension to compete last night took its toll on a more nervous Maria than usual: “I went to bed early, around 8:30, but I kept tossing and turning. Around twelve they gave me melatonin and I was able to sleep about three and a half hours Maria got up at four. The truth is that she hadn’t felt these nerves for many years, but sometimes nerves are good. Besides, once at the starting line they had passed.
