Jefferson Perez of Ecuador celebrates winning the 20km world race walking cup (© Getty Images)
World champion Race walker Jefferson Pérez, the only Olympic medallist from Ecuador, has announced that will compete in both the 20km and 50km in Athens, although the final decision will be made after the 20Km.
“The final phase of the preparation, which was done between Guayaquil and Cuenca has been going very well, and I will be travelling to Athens a week prior to the 20Km.
My goal is to win the Olympic title in the 20km. Then I will have seven days to recover for the 50Km. We have set special workouts to recuperate, along with massage therapy and re-hydration”, said Pérez.
The 20Km will take place on 20 August, and the 50Km on 27 August.
Pérez won the Olympic 20km event in Atlanta ’96, to become the youngest walker to take that title at the age of 22. Then, in Sydney 2000 he was fourth and decided to retire from the sport.
Still, he came back in 2001 and since then he has been one of the best, winning the 2002 and 2004 World Cups, and the 2003 World Championships where he set the World Record (1:17:21).
Perez has only 2 experiences at the 50Km. One at the 1999 World Cup, where he didn’t finish (abandoned after 40Km). The other is more recent, on 13 April 2003, in Naumburg, were he finished 8th in 3:56:04, achieving the A Olympic qualifying standard and a National record.
His brother and manager, Fabián added “He set the goal of doubling during the preparation, so we requested the National Olympic Committee to be entered in both events. Still we will only make the final decision after the 20Km”.
The 30 year-old will carry the Ecuadorian flag in the Opening Ceremony, and is the main hope for his country. Two compatriots will also compete in the 20Km: Rolando Saquipay, 12th at the World Cup in 1:20:47, and Xavier Moreno, 22nd in 1:22:24.
“We have trained together, and that has been a great advantage. We may race as a team, something that could make things easier”, added the World Champion.
