Portugal’s Ana Cabecinha qualified this Sunday for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in the 20 kilometer run, with a time of 01:28.49, making her ninth place in the World Athletics competition, in Budapest.
In her seventh appearance at World Championships, the 39-year-old CO Pechão walker surpassed the mark of 1:29:20 to become the fourth athlete in the modality with a qualifying mark, after Auriol Dongmo, at the weight launch, Isaac Nader at the 1,500 meters and João Coelho in the 400 meters.
In addition to the four national athletics representatives, four Olympic places have already been secured in swimming, three in sailing, one in cycling and one in surfing.
“I’ve tried to enjoy every lap in this championship, after such a bumpy ride we’ve had. I tried to get behind my back, smile and feel good, and it happened, I managed to get here to be and do the Olympic Games.” lows and a world top-10,” described Ana Cabecinha.
The Algarve was the third European in the 20km walk, won by Marta Pérez, who secured Spain dominance in the distance, a day after Álvaro Martin’s victory in the men’s.
In 01:26.51, Pérez succeeded Peruvian Kimbarly García Léon, 2022 Oregon champion in the 20 and 35, who had today been relegated to fourth, behind Australia’s Gemina Montag and second- and third-classified Italian Antonela Palmisano, with the times of 01:27.16 and 01:27.26 respectively.
Ana Cabecinha, who never risked being among the front runners, remained in the leading chasing group for much of the race and passed in 10th place at 10 kilometers, 21 seconds behind the top seven.
And so he sealed his fifth Olympic presence, after sixth places in Rio 2016 and London 2012, but also eighth in Beijing 2008 and 20th in Tokyo 2020.
“That’s what I fought for, for the minimum. What’s the secret? The secret is to have a great team behind you. Because after all these years, if you don’t know how to manage your career, it’s hard. If it wasn’t for them and my coach [Paulo Murta] knows what he’s doing and I believe in his work, so it’s time to congratulate everyone for what I’ve achieved,” he stressed.
Vitória Oliveira, who presented the worst record of the season out of 48 in the race, was also pleased and improved her personal best to 01:33.04 with 24th place.
“Initially I felt really good. I know I’m in good shape and I wanted to be a little bit better, brand-wise and even position-wise. I knew it was difficult, but I wanted to take it one step further.” a little further,” admitted the natural marcher from Loures
At the age of 30, Vitória Oliveira made her debut in the shortest distance of her specialty in the World Championships, after placing 19th in the 35 kilometers at Oregon 2022, without ever risking too much, she passed in the middle of the race in 27th place, 01.59 minutes ahead.
“In the end the figure is not bad, after the two difficult days we had with a very tough journey – we ran out of luggage – which complicated this championship. But I think we showed that we are on the right side .” job, especially the hallway I’m very happy, especially for Ana’s Olympic minimum [Cabecinha] and also to be able to dream of Paris with her,” emphasized Vitória Oliveira.
The 19th edition of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest started today and will run until August 27.
Source: DN
