Ecuador's Brian Pintado won the first athletics gold medal of the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing the men's 20km race walk in 1:18:55. He was closely followed by Brazil's Caio Bonfim, who took silver with a time of 1:19:09, and Spain's Alvaro Martin, who secured the bronze at 1:19:11. The race was initially delayed due to thunderstorms, but once underway, Pintado pulled away decisively in the final kilometer. This victory marks Ecuador's second Olympic title in the event, following Jefferson Perez's gold in 1996. Meanwhile, Samuel Gathimba of Kenya, who had previously failed to finish in 2016, managed to complete the race but finished in 22nd place. The event took place on a scenic one-kilometer circuit near the Eiffel Tower, showcasing a vibrant atmosphere with enthusiastic spectators.