On the Hungarian national holiday on Sunday (August 20th, 2023), DLV walker Saskia Feige had nothing to celebrate at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest: In the race over 20 km, the girl from Leipzig came off the finish line. Gold went to Spain: The world’s best Maria Perez won clearly.
With temperatures around 25 degrees in the morning, the 26-year-old could no longer keep up with the high pace of the race early on. Around seven kilometers she had to let the leading group go. After that she fought doggedly, was lapped by the leading group and finally finished 30th after 1:34:49 hours. According to the German Athletics Association (DLV), Feige had to be “medically treated for circulatory problems”. She was therefore initially not available for a statement.
National coach Ronald Weigel and their home coaches Beate Conrad and Thomas Dreißigacker had tried to motivate the fig from the edge of the track. Alone: That day there was no longer sitting in it. The Leipzig native was a long way from her personal best time of April (1:28:28 hours). She won bronze at the European Championships in Munich last year.
defending champion Garcia Leon gets nothing
The new world champion, on the other hand, went to her knees jubilantly and exhausted after crossing the finish line: 27-year-old Perez, who won European Championship gold in Berlin in 2018 and was disqualified at the World and European Championships last year, won in 1:26:51 hours and celebrated with the Spanish national flag in his hands. Australia’s Jemima Montag (1:27:16 hrs.) was 25 seconds behind and after a strong performance, was happy about silver. Olympic champion Antonella Palmisano from Italy (1:27:26 hours) won bronze. Defending champion Kimberly Garcia Leon from Peru just missed out: she finished fourth in 1:27:32 hours. Perez is also considered a big favorite for gold in the 35 km competition at the World Championships in Budapest. Feige will not start in this race, the DLV will be represented there by Bianca Maria Dittrich (Freiburg).
Linke with German record in fifth place
The day before, Feige’s DLV teammate Christopher Linke had delivered a strong performance over 20 km walking for men at the start of the World Cup: In a German record time of 1:18:12 hours, the 34-year-old from Potsdam finished fifth. Two-time European champion Alvaro Martin from Spain secured gold with a world best time of 1:17.32 hours ahead of Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom (1:17.39) and Brazilian Caio Bonfim (1:17.47).