Coverage news. Budapest faced cloudy skies this Saturday, a weather pattern that could influence the men’s 20km walk at the World Championships in Athletics. The event, scheduled to begin at 8:45am, presents Spain with strong medal prospects anchored by Álvaro Martín of Extremadura, alongside teammates Diego García and Luis Alberto Amezcua.
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About an hour before the test, a dense cloud cover hovered above Plaza de los Héroes, where the two-kilometer walking track is located. Forecasts warned of a possible major storm that could disrupt the race and the electronics in use on race day. The team remained vigilant as conditions evolved.
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The decision to delay the start came only minutes before the scheduled time. Organizers postponed the men’s 20 kilometer walk from the planned start to 10:45, extending the morning window by two hours. In the end, the event would unfold after a long pause, with expectations that a new world champion could emerge later in the day. The field includes strong contenders, including Toshikazu Yamanishi of Japan, who has claimed titles at Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022, keeping the competition open in Budapest. The day’s weather shift, initially anticipated as a heat wave, evolved into a storm front that challenged organizers and athletes alike.
This schedule change means the walking race overlaps with a substantial portion of the morning program at the National Athletic Center track. Dani Arce and Víctor Ruiz are entered in the 3,000m hurdles. In the long jump qualifiers, Fátima Diamé, Tessy Ebosele, and Maria Vicente are set to compete, while Esther Guerrero, Marta Pérez, and Águeda Marqués participate in the first lap of the 1,500m.
As the storm front persisted, officials explored alternatives for moving the test to Monday or Tuesday, should the morning session not provide a safe window for competition. The postponement meant Álvaro Martín, Diego García, and Luis Alberto Amezcua would have to wait an additional two hours to take the start. Thunder continued to rumble over Heroes’ Square in Budapest as organizers monitored the weather with urgency.
The shifting conditions underscored the unpredictability of outdoor events in international athletics, where even small changes in weather can ripple through the schedule and affect athletes’ preparations. The competition outlook rested on a balance between resilience and strategy, as athletes and coaches adapted to evolving forecasts and the potential impacts on performance, equipment, and race plans.
In the broader program, the morning session featured a lineup across multiple distance and field events, testing the capacity of competitors to stay focused despite interruptions. The World Championships in Budapest continued to energize fans and participants alike, with the 20km walk serving as a focal point for national teams keen to showcase endurance, discipline, and strategic pacing under pressure.