With a title and a silver in Tokyo, Brasiliense reached four podiums in the history of the competition and surpassed sprinter Claudinei Quirino
The Brasiliense, 34, entered history by winning the gold medal in the 20 km athletic march on Friday night (Brasilia). The time of 1h18min35s guaranteed the athlete his fourth medal in world championships, made that makes him the Brazilian with more podiums in the competition. The previous week, Caio had already won the silver in 35 km.
Before, he had added two bronzes in 20 km – in 2017, in London, and in 2023 in Budapest. With this, it surpassed sprinter Claudinei Quirino, who accumulated three medals. The podium in Tokyo was completed by Chinese Wang Zhaozhao (1h18min43) and Spanish Paul McGrath (1h18min45). Another Brazilian, Matheus Corrêa, ended in seventh, while Max Santos was the 42nd place.
Caio made a strategic race on the outskirts of the Japan National Stadium. For much of the route, he remained in the second platoon, managing forces. The turn came in the final kilometers, when Japanese Toshikazu Yamanishi, then leader, received a two -minute punishment for technical irregularities. From then on, the Brazilian accelerated, took the tip and opened an advantage until he crossed the finish line.
“It was a world of resilience: [Pensei comigo mesmo] ‘Don’t give up, don’t give up, one more return’. It worked, ”he celebrated. By winning, he fell to the exhausted floor, wrapped in the victory track, and shouted to the stands:“ I’m the world champion, I’m not the second, no ”.
With the title, Caio Bonfim became just the third Brazilian world champion of athletics. Before him, only Fabiana Murer (rod jump in 2011) and (400 m with barriers in 2022) had reached the top of the podium. The Sobradinho athlete (DF) also carries the silver medal in the curriculum 20 km of the Paris-2024 Olympic Games.
In addition to the conquest of Caio, Brazil also celebrated in Tokyo the silver of Alison dos Santos in the 400 m with barriers, consolidating one of the best performances in the country in the history of the world.
Posted by Felipe Dantas
*Report produced with the aid of AI
