Spain’s Maria Perez produced a stunning performance at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, winning the women’s inaugural half marathon race walk title in a world-record time of 1:30:06. Pérez controlled the race from the start, initially staying alongside Italy’s Antonella Palmisano before pulling away around the 10km mark. Her lead continued to grow, and she crossed 20km in 1:25:30 before completing the historic race in record time.
The victory marked Pérez’s second European title, eight years after her 20km triumph in Berlin in 2018. Italy’s Alexandrina Mihai claimed silver in 1:31:04, while Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Olyanovska took bronze in 1:31:07, with France’s Pauline Stey finishing fourth in 1:31:12. Pérez’s performance established the first European and world records for the new event, while Spain also completed a sweep of the men’s and women’s half marathon race walk titles.
Who Is Maria Perez? Know About Her Childhood and Early Life
Maria Perez García, born on April 29, 1996, in Orce, Granada, is one of Spain’s leading race walkers and a world-record holder. She grew up in the small Andalusian town, where her parents, Luis and Paqui García, supported her as she developed a strong interest in sport. Her early years in a close-knit rural community helped shape the determination and discipline that later became central to her athletics career.
As her ambitions grew, Pérez moved away from her hometown to continue her training while pursuing her education. She studied for a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at UCAM Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, managing her studies alongside the demands of elite race walking. Her commitment eventually took her to the biggest international stages, where she went on to win two gold medals at the 2023 World Championships and silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Maria Perez’s Major Achievements: World Titles, Olympic Glory and Records
Maria Perez has built one of the strongest résumés in Spanish race walking, combining major championship victories with world-record performances. She won 20km gold at the 2018 European Championships, followed by a 20km silver and marathon race walk relay gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the World Championships, Pérez achieved historic back-to-back doubles in the 20km and 35km events at Budapest 2023 and Tokyo 2025.
Pérez also holds two major world records, setting the 35km mark at 2:37:15 in 2023 and the half-marathon race walk record at 1:30:06 in 2026. Her latest European title came in Birmingham in the inaugural half-marathon race walk, adding to her growing list of international honors. She has also won seven Spanish national titles and was named the 2025 World Athletics Out of Stadium Athlete of the Year.
