The 20 kilometre race walk is an Olympic athletics event that is competed by both men and women. The

racewalking Race walking, or racewalking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asses ...

event is competed as a road race. Athletes must always keep in contact with the ground and the supporting leg must remain straight until the raised leg passes it.

World records

The men's world record for the 20 km race walk is held by Yusuke Suzuki, who walked 1:16:36 at the Asian Race Walking Championships in his home town of Nomi, Japan. Suzuki's new World Record came exactly one week after Yohann Diniz's mark who walked a then record time of 1:17:02 in

Arles Arles ( , , ; ; Classical ) is a coastal city and Communes of France, commune in the South of France, a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture in the Bouches-du-Rhône Departments of France, department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Reg ...

at the 2015 French championships. The women's world record of 1:23:49 was set by Yang Jiayu of China in 2021. Russian Elena Lashmanova, has served a previous ban for doping, currently holds a quicker time of 1:23:39 which is also the European record, but it has never been ratified as a world record.

All-time top 25

Men

*Correct as of February 2025.

Women

*Correct as of August 2023.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:26:11: * Liu Hong also walked 1:25:46 (2012), 1:25:56 (2016, 2019), 1:26:00 (2012). * Yelena Lashmanova also walked 1:25:41 (2021), 1:25:49 (2013). * Olga Kaniskina also walked 1:25:42 (2008), 1:25:54 (2016), 1:26:02 (2006). * Vera Sokolova also walked 1:25:35 (2010), 1:25:38 (2015), 1:26:00 (2013). * Anisiya Kornikova-Kirdyapkina also walked 1:25:30 (2008), 1:25:59 (2013). * Yang Jiayu also walked 1:25:34 (2019), 1:25:54 (2024). * Shenjie Qieyang also walked 1:25:37 (2019). * Olimpiada Ivanova also walked 1:25:41 (2005), 1:26:08 (2000). * Lü Xiuzhi also walked 1:25:51 (2021). The following athletes have had their performances (inside 1:26:11) annulled due to doping offence:

Olympic medalists

Men

Women

World Championships medalists

Men

Women

Season's bests

Men

Women

External links

IAAF list of 20-kilometres-race-walk records in XML

References

{{Athletics events Race walking distances Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics