Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 20km Race Walk - Trocadero, Paris, France - August 01, 2024. Brian Daniel Pintado of Ecuador celebrates with his countries flag after winning gold. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
PARIS (Reuters) -Moments after Brian Pintado of Ecuador had blazed to a glorious gold medal in the 20km race walk at the Paris Olympics, he pulled out a tiny photo of his two children from his waistband pocket - his inspiration, he said, for when the going got tough.
The 29-year-old pulled away from the field over the final kilometre for the victory on Thursday, crossing the finish line in a time of one hour, 18 minutes and 55 seconds.
"It motivated me to really give everything," Pintado said of the photo of his son Nicolas and daughter Montserrath.
Caio Bonfim of Brazil raced to silver in 1:19.09, while 2023 world champion Alvaro Martin of Spain was third in 1:19.11 to kick off the Olympics athletics competition.
The victory was Pintado's first in a global competition after he raced to silver in the 35km distance at the 2022 world championships.
"It was insane," Pintado said. "In the last few metres, I realised I was completely alone, and seeing the finish line I just kept thinking, 'I'm the Olympic champion, it's me.'
"It has been tough to be away from my family for four months," added Pintado.
"But they were with me throughout the race."
The lead changed hands numerous times among a tight lead group of 15 walkers through the first 13km, but the group started to spread out at the 15km mark.
The top four had pulled away from the field by the final lap, with Pintado - wearing mirrored sunglasses, a scarf that was a gift from his grandmother, and a silver necklace with a pendant of two runners, he and his son - increasing his lead over the final gruelling kilometre.
The Ecuadorian shook two fists in celebration after crossing the finish line.
"I don't remember how the competition went, I was just focused on my walking and listened to my trainer, the ones giving advice to me," Pintado said.
"Yesterday I cried because I was scared, but then I connected with my family, and my mother, and they motivated me. I only slept four hours last night because I was so excited."
The course was a 1km loop along the picturesque Pont d'Alene and under the Eiffel Tower.
An early-morning thunderstorm had pushed back the start by 30 minutes, but by the time the walkers took to the line, the clouds had given way to blue skies and a comfortable temperature of 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Olympic race walks returned to the host city of Paris three years after the Olympic walks were held in Sapporo to beat the sizzling Tokyo heat.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Tom Hogue)
