Rome, 20 September (LaPresse) – The 20 km race walk at the World Championships in Tokyo ended too soon for Antonella Palmisano. The Italian athlete stopped during the twelfth kilometre after remaining in the leading group until just before the halfway point, one week after winning silver in the 35 km race that opened the world championships. This time, the reigning European champion, gold medallist four years ago at the Tokyo Games in the 20 km race held in Sapporo, as well as world bronze medallist in 2017 and 2023, was unable to keep up with the leaders and began to fall behind after nine kilometres, gradually losing ground and retiring as she did last season at the Paris Olympics. Maria Perez wins again, securing her second consecutive double victory at the World Championships after her success two years ago in Budapest. The formidable Spaniard triumphs with a great time of 1h25:54, ahead of Mexico's Alegna Gonzalez (1h26:06) and Japan's Nanako Fujii (1h26:18).