The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVIII Olympiad and commonly known as Tokyo 1964, were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki due to Japan's invasion of China, before ultimately being cancelled due to World War II. Tokyo was chosen as the host city during the 55th IOC Session in West Germany on 26 May 1959.
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. This is assessed by race judges. Typically held on either roads or running tracks, common distances range from 3,000 metres (1.9 mi) up to 100 kilometres (62.1 mi).
Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. 204 competitors, 160 men and 44 women, took part in 124 events in 17 sports. British athletes have competed and won at least one gold medal in every Summer Olympic Games. Future Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell represented Britain at the 200m.
The men's 20 kilometres walk was the shorter of the two men's racewalking events on the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 15 October 1964. 35 athletes from 15 nations entered, with 30 starting and 26 finishing.
At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 29 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 6 for women. It was the first time the 50 kilometres race walk appeared in the athletic program at the Games. This was the second time women's events in athletics were included in the Olympic Games program and the first time that women competed in the javelin throw and 80m hurdles at the Olympics. There was a total of 386 participants from 34 countries competing.
The Men's 50 km Race Walk event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 42 competitors. Three athletes were disqualified, while four walkers did not finish the race, held on Friday September 30, 1988.
These are the official results of the Men's 50 km Walk at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There were a total number of 45 competitors, with seven athletes who were disqualified.
The Men's 50 km Race Walk at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR had an entry list of 27 competitors. Three athletes were disqualified and nine did not finish in the final, held on 30 July 1980. This event was not conducted in 1976, it was last held in 1972.
Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics is being held during the last ten days of the Games. They were due to be held from 31 July – 8 August 2020, at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games were postponed to 2021, with the track and field events set for 30 July – 8 August 2021. The sport of athletics at these Games is split into three distinct sets of events: track and field events, road running events, and racewalking events. A total of 48 events will be held, one more than in 2016, with the addition of a mixed relay event.
Race walking events at the Summer Olympics have been contested over a variety of distances at the multi-sport event. There are three race walking events in the current Olympic athletics programme: a men's and a women's 20 kilometres walk, and a men's 50 kilometres walk. The races are held in a final-only format.
Evan Dunfee is a Canadian race walker and Olympian. An Olympic and World medalist, Dunfee first set the Canadian record in the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he placed fourth. He went on to win bronze medals at the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the 2020 Summer Olympics, both of those the last time the 50 km was to be featured as an event.
Hagen Pohle is a German racewalker. He competed in the 20 kilometres walk event at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed in the 20 km walk event where he finished in 18th place and the 50 km walk event where he did not finish. In 2019, he competed in the men's 20 kilometres walk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He finished in 17th place.
Anatoly Stepanovich Vedyakov was a Soviet racewalker. He competed in the men's 20 kilometres walk and men's 50 kilometres walk at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
For the athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics competitions, the following qualification systems are in place. Qualification ended on 29 June 2021, but for marathon and 50 km race walking, it already ended on 31 May 2021. Some 1900 athletes, from 196 countries, will compete. 103 countries are qualified also through Universality places.
The men's 20 kilometres walk event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 5 August 2021 in Sapporo. Approximately 60 athletes competed; the exact number was dependent on how many nations use universality places to enter athletes in addition to the number qualifying through time. The reigning champion is Wang Zhen of China.
The men's 50 kilometres walk event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place on 6 August 2021 in Sapporo. 59 athletes competed; the exact number was dependent on how many nations use universality places to enter athletes in addition to the number qualifying through time.
Jonathan Hilbert is a German racewalker. He won the silver medal in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan. In 2019, he competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He finished in 23rd place.
Marc Tur Pico is a Spanish racewalker. In 2019, he competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He finished in 19th place.
The 2021 British Athletics Marathon and 20 km Walk Trial was held on 26 March 2021 as a trial event for British athletes to qualify for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It was the first time since 1980 that a dedicated marathon trial event was held, and the courses consisted of multiple laps around Kew Gardens in London.
