World 20km and 35km race walk champion Álvaro Martín has announced his retirement from international athletics. The 30-year-old Spaniard earned two Olympic medals in Paris last month, taking bronze in the 20km race walk before teaming up with fellow world champion María Pérez to capture gold in the marathon race walk mixed relay. Born in the small village of Llerena (Badajoz), Martín moved to Madrid at the age of 16 to study and chase his athletics dreams. His race walking ability soon became apparent, and just two years later he made his Olympic debut in London in 2012 at the age of 18.
Ever since, Martín, a very reliable performer, has participated in major competitions each and every season. He has participated in three European Championships, five World Championships, and four Olympic Games. Following his disqualification from his debut Olympic competition in London, he finished 22nd in Rio in 2016 and fourth in Tokyo in 2021 before ultimately securing a podium spot in Paris. While still competing as a U20 athlete, he made his debut at the World Championships in 2013 and finished 23rd. Before winning his historic double triumph in Budapest in 2023, he went on to place eighth in London in 2017, seventh in Oregon, and sixteenth in Beijing in 2015.
In addition, Martín has won two European gold medals in the shorter distance, both on German roads in Berlin in 2018 and Munich in 2022, after finishing fifth in Zurich in 2014 at the age of just 20. Before that, in 2013 in Rieti, he won bronze in the European U20 competition, and in 2015 in Tallinn, he advanced to win silver in the European U23 competition. In Budapest last year, he established a lifetime best of 1:17:32 for 20 km, and he has surpassed the 1:20 mark ten times at that distance. In addition, he holds a personal best time of 2:24:30 for 35 kilometers and has won the prestigious “Gran Premio Cantones” race walking competition twice, in La Coruna (in 2017 and 2022).
Before that, in 2013 in Rieti, he won bronze in the European U20 competition, and in 2015 in Tallinn, he advanced to win silver in the European U23 competition. In Budapest last year, he established a lifetime best of 1:17:32 for 20 km, and he has surpassed the 1:20 mark ten times at that distance. In addition, he holds a personal best time of 2:24:30 for 35 kilometers and has won the prestigious “Gran Premio Cantones” race walking competition twice, in La Coruna (in 2017 and 2022).
With degrees in both political science and law, Martín made his retirement announcement on Saturday following his receipt of the highest honor from Extremadura, one of Spain’s autonomous communities/states. After his medal was delivered by Perez, his Parisian relay partner, Martin gave an impassioned statement to a full house.
I didn’t think I was going to win an Olympic or world championship,” he remarked. “I deny possessing special abilities or talents; success has simply come from a lot of effort, sacrifice, and good fortune. Is victory the most significant factor? Unquestionably not; I believe I have paved the road for future generations and demonstrated that it is possible to succeed in sports and academics while coming from a small town. Being able to influence others is far more important.
“I am announcing today that the Olympic Games in Paris was my final competition,” an emotional Martin said, expressing gratitude to his partner, family, and coach José Antonio Carrillo for their unwavering support. “I’m torn between happiness and sadness, but I want to retire at the top.” It’s time to take on new tasks outside of sports.
