Men's 20 km walk during the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland. The man on the far right is illegally "lifting".

Racewalking is a long-distance event in the sport of athletics. Although the idea is to get from point 'A' to point 'B' as quickly as possible on two legs, racewalking is biomechanically quite different from running. According to the rules (below) one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Stride length is reduced, so to achieve competitive speeds, racewalkers must attain cadence rates comparable to those achieved by Olympic 400-meter runners–and they must do so for hours at a time since the Olympic distances are 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) and 50 kilometers (31 miles.) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Helsinki Olympic Stadium at the opening day of the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. ... Location of Helsinki in Northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Province Region Uusimaa Sub-region Helsinki Charter 1550 Capital city 1812 Government  - City manager Jussi Pajunen Area  - City 187. ... For other uses, see Running (disambiguation). ...

Rules

There are two rules that govern racewalking. The first dictates that the athlete's back toe cannot leave the ground until the heel of the front foot has touched. Violation of this rule is known as 'lifting.' The second rule requires that the supporting leg must straighten from the point of contact with the ground and remain straightened until the body passes over it. These rules are judged by the human eye, which creates controversy at today's high speeds. Athletes may sometimes 'lift' for a few milliseconds per stride which can be caught on high-speed film, but such a short flight phase' is undetectable to the human eye. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Athletes stay low to the ground by keeping their arms pumping low, close to their hips. If one sees a racewalker's shoulders rising, it may be a sign that the athlete is losing contact with the ground. What appears to be an exaggerated swivel to the hip is, in fact, a full rotation of the pelvis. Athletes aim to move the pelvis forward, and to minimize sideways motion in order to achieve maximum forward propulsion. Speed is achieved by stepping quickly with the aim of rapid turnover. This minimizes the risk of the feet leaving the ground. Strides are short and quick, with pushoff coming forward from the ball of the foot, again to minimize the risk of lifting off the ground. World-class racewalkers (male and female) can walk a mile (1.6 km) in under six minutes.

Judges

There are judges on the course to monitor form. Three judges submitting "red cards" for violations results in disqualification. There is a scoreboard placed on the course so competitors can see their violation status. If the third violation is received, the chief judge removes the competitor from the course by showing a red paddle. For monitoring reasons, races are held on a looped course or on a track so judges get to see competitors several times during a race. A judge could also "warn" a competitor that he or she is in danger of losing form by showing a paddle that indicates either lifting or bent knees. Disqualifications are routine at the elite level, such as the famous case of Jane Saville disqualified within sight of a gold medal in front of her home crowd in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Jane Saville (born November 5, 1974 in Sydney) is an Australian race walker who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. ... The 2000 Summer Olympics or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were the Summer Olympic Games held in 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ...

Olympics

Racewalking is an Olympic athletics ('track & field') event with distances of 20 kilometers for both men and women and 50 kilometers for men only. Racewalking first appeared in the modern Olympics in 1904 as a half-mile walk in the 'all-rounder,' the precursor to the 10-event decathlon. In 1906, stand-alone 1,500m and 3,000m racewalks were added, and–excluding 1924–there has been at least one racewalk (for men) in every edition of the Olympics since. The women's racewalk became an Olympic event only in 1992, following years of active lobbying by female internationals. A World Cup in racewalking is held bienially, and racewalk events appear in the IAAF Athletics World Championships, the Commonwealth Games and the Pan American Games, among others. The Summer Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years, organised by the International Olympic Committee. ... A womens 400 m hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland. ... Decathlon is an athletic event combining 10 track and field events. ... The IAAF World Race Walking Cup is a race walking event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. ... The World Championships in Athletics is an event organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations. ... Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation Locations of the games, and participating countries Commonwealth Games Federation seal, adopted in 2001 The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. ... The Pan American Games are a multi-sport event, held every four years between competitors from all nations of the Americas. ...

Racewalking versus speedwalking

While racewalking is the official name for the sport, many people who are not familiar with the event call it speedwalking, as racers walk at a fast pace. This term is disliked by racewalkers, as it is the term that was used by those in the fitness industry (i.e. not track & field) to denote extra exertion while walking, but without any of the rules explained above. Basically, speedwalking is the same thing as power walking. Power walking is walking at a speed at the upper end of the natural range for the walking gait, typically 4. ...

Racewalking in film

• Walk Don't Run: (Columbia Pictures Corporation) A 1966 Cary Grant movie, revolving around race walking at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
• Rael's Racewalker: (Acropolis Films, LLC) A 2005 documentary film adapted from footage of an actual World Masters Championship Racewalk event.
• Rocketboom episode on racewalking.
• "Walkin' Free": Fictional, short film. Soon to be adapted into feature.

This article is about the film. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the British actor. ... The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, were held in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... Walkin Free is the story of Seve Freepoontang, the greatest long distance racewalker that ever lived. ...

Top 10 performers

Accurate as of January 1, 2006.

Men

20 km

See also: World record progression 20km walk men

Mark	Athlete	Nationality	Venue	Date
1:17:21	Jefferson Pérez	Ecuador	Paris	August 23, 2003
1:17:22	Francisco Javier Fernández	Spain	Turku	April 28, 2002
1:17:23	Vladimir Stankin	Russia	Adler	February 8, 2004
1:17:33	Nathan Deakes	Australia	Cixi	April 23, 2005
1:17:41	Zhu Hongjun	China	Cixi	April 23, 2005
1:17:46	Julio René Martínez	Guatemala	Eisenhüttenstadt	May 8, 1999
1:17:46	Roman Rasskazov	Russia	Moscow	May 19, 2000
1:17:53	Cui Zhide	China	Cixi	April 23, 2005
1:17:56	Alejandro López	Mexico	Eisenhüttenstadt	May 8, 1999

The following table shows the World Record Progression in the Mens 20 km Walk, as recognised by the IAAF. World record progression 50km walk men World record progression 20km walk women Athletix Categories: | ... Jefferson Pérez (born 1974) is an Ecuadorian track and field athlete. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ecuador. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Francisco Javier (Paquillo) Fernández Peláez (born March 6, 1977 in Guadix, Granada) is a Spanish race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Location of Turku in Northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Finland Province Western Finland Region Finland Proper Sub-region Turku sub-region Government  - Mayor Mikko Pukkinen Area  - City 306. ... Vladimir Stankin (born 2 January 1974) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The term Adler, the German word for the bird of prey eagle, is both the last name of many people and an emblematic bird (notably in heraldry, bannistics, numismatics etc. ... Nathan Deakes (born August 17, 1977) is an Australian race walker. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... A town of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, P.R.China Categories: | ... Zhu Hongjun (born 18 August 1981 in Liaoning) is a Chinese race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... A town of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, P.R.China Categories: | ... Julio René Martínez (born 27 September 1973) is a Guatemalan race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guatemala. ... Eisenhüttenstadt (literally ironworks city in German; pronunciation) is a city in Brandenburg, Germany. ... Roman Rasskazov (born April 28, 1979) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... A town of Ningbo, Zhejiang province, P.R.China Categories: | ... Alejandro López (born February 9, 1975) is a Mexican race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Eisenhüttenstadt (literally ironworks city in German; pronunciation) is a city in Brandenburg, Germany. ...

50 km

See also: World record progression 50km walk men

Mark	Athlete	Nationality	Venue	Date
3:35:29x	Denis Nizhegorodov	Russia	Cheboksary	June 13, 2004
3:35:47	Nathan Deakes	Australia	Geelong	December 2, 2006
3:36:03	Robert Korzeniowski	Poland	Paris	August 27, 2003
3:36:04	Alex Schwazer	Italy	Rosignano Solvay	February 11, 2007
3:36:06	Yu Chaohong	China	Nanjing	October 22, 2005
3:36:13	Zhao Chengliang	China	Nanjing	October 22, 2005
3:36:20	Han Yucheng	China	Nanjing	February 27, 2005
3:36:42	German Skurygin	Russia	Paris	August 27, 2003
3:37:26	Valeriy Spitsyn	Russia	Moscow	May 21, 2000
3:37:41	Andrey Perlov	Soviet Union	Leningrad	August 5, 1989

x = Not ratified as Record - no EPO test.

The following table shows the World Record Progression in the Mens 50 km Walk, as recognised by the IAAF. // The 3:35:29 by Russias Denis Nizhegorodov set in Cheboksary on June 13, 2004 was not ratified by the IAAF as a World Record due to the fact... Denis Nizhegorodov (born July 26, 1980) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Cheboksary (Russian: ; , Shupashkar) is a city and the capital of the Chuvash Republic (РЕСПУБЛИКА ЧУВАШИЯ), located inside of Russia Federation. ... Nathan Deakes (born August 17, 1977) is an Australian race walker. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... - - Nickname: City by the Bay Geography Area: 1,240 km² Coordinates: Time Zone UTC +10:00 Population (2003) 200,067 Among Australian cities: Density: persons/km² Political Mayor: Shane Dowling Governing body: City of Greater Geelong Geelong is a port city of 200,067 people (2003 census) located on Corio... Robert Korzeniowski (born July 30, 1968 in Lubaczow, Poland) is a Polish racewalker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Alex Schwazer (born 26 December 1984) is an Italian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Rosignano Marittimo is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Livorno in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 80 km southwest of Florence and about 20 km southeast of Livorno. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... For other uses, see Nanjing (disambiguation). ... Zhao Chengliang (born 1 June 1984) is a Chinese race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... For other uses, see Nanjing (disambiguation). ... Han Yucheng (born 16 December 1978 in Liaoning) is a Chinese race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... For other uses, see Nanjing (disambiguation). ... German Skurygin (born September 15, 1963 in Vutno) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Valeriy Spitsyn (born December 5, 1965) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Andrey Perlov (born December 12, 1961) is a retired race walker who represented the USSR and later Russia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Women

20 km

See also: World record progression 20km walk women

Mark	Athlete	Nationality	Venue	Date
1:24:50	Olimpiada Ivanova	Russia	Adler	March 4, 2001
1:25:18	Tatyana Gudkova	Russia	Moscow	May 19, 2000
1:25:20	Olga Polyakova	Russia	Moscow	May 19, 2000
1:25:29	Irina Stankina	Russia	Moscow	May 19, 2000
1:25:59	Tamara Kovalenko	Russia	Moscow	May 19, 2000
1:26:22	Wang Yan	China	Guangzhou	November 19, 2001
1:26:22	Yelena Nikolayeva	Russia	Cheboksary	May 18, 2003
1:26:23	Wang Liping	China	Guangzhou	November 19, 2001
1:26:28	Irina Pudovkina	Russia	Adler	March 12, 2005
1:26:35	Liu Hongyu	China	Guangzhou	November 19, 2001

The following table shows the World Record Progression in the Womens 20 km Walk, as recognised by the IAAF. World record progression 10km walk women World record progression 20km walk men World record progression 50km walk men Athletix IOC-site Categories: | ... Olimpiada Ivanova (Олимпиада Иванова in Russian, born August 26, 1970 in Munsjuty, Chuvashia) is a Russian track and field athlete who has 4 medals from the major events. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The term Adler, the German word for the bird of prey eagle, is both the last name of many people and an emblematic bird (notably in heraldry, bannistics, numismatics etc. ... Tatyana Gudkova (born 23 December 1978) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Irina Stankina (born March 25, 1977 in Saransk) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Wang Yan (born May 3, 1971 in Liaoning) is a Chinese race walker, who won the bronze medal over 10 km at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Yelena Nikolayeva Елена Николаевна Николаева (born February 1, 1966 in Akshiki Chuvashskaya) is a Russian race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Cheboksary (Russian: ; , Shupashkar) is a city and the capital of the Chuvash Republic (РЕСПУБЛИКА ЧУВАШИЯ), located inside of Russia Federation. ... Wang Liping (born July 8, 1976 in Fengcheng, Liaoning) is a Chinese race walker, who became Olympic champion over 20 kilometres in 2000. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The term Adler, the German word for the bird of prey eagle, is both the last name of many people and an emblematic bird (notably in heraldry, bannistics, numismatics etc. ... Liu Hongyu (born 11 January 1975 in Liaoning) is a Chinese race walker. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Notable racewalkers

Robert Barclay Allardice (August 25, 1779, Stonehaven, Kincardine and Mearns - May 8, 1854), the 6th Laird of Ury, generally known as Captain Barclay, was a notable Scottish walker of the early 19th century, known as The Celebrated Pedestrian. ... Ernesto Canto (born 18 November 1959 in Mexico City) was a Mexican race walker who competed mainly in the 20 kilometre walk. ... Chen Yueling (simplified Chinese: , born December 24, 1969 in Liaoning) is an American race walker, who became Olympic champion in 1992 while competing for China. ... Curt Clausen (born 9 October 1967) is an American race walker. ... Maurizio Damilano (born April 6, 1957 in Scarnafigi) is a Italian race walker. ... Nathan Deakes (born August 17, 1977) is an Australian race walker. ... Francisco Fernández may refer to: Francisco Javier Fernández (born March 6, 1977 in Guadix) a Spanish race walker. ... Vladimir Stepanovich Golubnichy (Russian:Владимир Степанович Голубничий) (born June 2, 1936 in Sumy, Ukrainian SSR) was a Soviet race walker who dominated the 20-kilometre walk in the 1960s and 1970s, winning the total of four Olympic medals. ... George Henry Goulding (November 19, 1884 in Hull, England - January 31, 1966) was a Canadian athlete who competed mainly in the 10 kilometre walk. ... Olimpiada Ivanova (Олимпиада Иванова in Russian, born August 26, 1970 in Munsjuty, Chuvashia) is a Russian track and field athlete who has 4 medals from the major events. ... Bernd Kannenberg (born 20 August 1942) was a West German athlete who competed mainly in the 50 kilometre walk. ... Robert Korzeniowski (born July 30, 1968 in Lubaczow, Poland) is a Polish racewalker. ... Henry Laskau has been called the greatest racewalker in U.S. track and field history. ... Carlos Mercenario Carbajal (born May 23, 1967) is a Mexican race walker. ... Yelena Nikolayeva Елена Николаевна Николаева (born February 1, 1966 in Akshiki Chuvashskaya) is a Russian race walker. ... Jefferson Pérez (born 1974) is an Ecuadorian track and field athlete. ... Jane Saville (born November 5, 1974 in Sydney) is an Australian race walker who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. ... Aleksey Voyevodin (born August 9, 1970) is a Russian race walker mainly competing over the 50 km distance. ... Ronald Weigel (b. ... Larry Young (born 10 February 1943) was an American athlete who competed mainly in the 50 kilometer walk. ...

External links

• World Class Racewalking
• Racewalk.com
• High School Race Walking
• Race Walking Record
• Race Walk UK
• WALK! Magazine
• The Walking Site