Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez have stepped up their Olympic game…

Following their individual medal-earning performances that fell just short of gold at the 2024 Paris Games, the 30-year-old Spanish race walker and the 28-year-old Spanish race walker have teamed up to win the mixed marathon race walk.

Spain’s two-time world champions Martin and Perez took the first ever gold medal in the relay event by nearly a minute at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Wednesday as the event made its Olympic debut.

The Spaniards, who each collected individual gold in both the 20km and 35km races at last year’s worlds in Budapest, finished in two hours, 50 minutes and 31 seconds, with Perez pulling away over the final lap.

She made a case in the post-race press conference for keeping walking in the Olympics amid concern the discipline is losing popularity and could be phased out.

“We have already shown that race walking has to be in all the Olympic Games. We have shown that we can make people (celebrate) with us and suffer with us, and also to the public who are watching us from home,” she said. “I think race walking is really making its place in the Olympic program, it deserves the recognition.”

The victory gives Spain three Olympic medals in Paris, with Perez winning silver in the women’s 20km a week earlier and Alvaro taking bronze in the men’s race.

“I started the year with a very long injury (a stress fracture), I almost had to undergo surgery and it’s almost a miracle that I’m here,” Perez said. “What I have learned from that few months is that little details are very important, and I also don’t take anything for granted.”

Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon of Ecuador took silver in 2:51.22, while Australia’s Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag claimed bronze (2:51:38).

Spain and Ecuador led virtually from the off, initially as part of a group of eight that had become two by the final leg.

Just three seconds separated the two teams when Martin and Perez smacked hands for the exchange.

Perez found another gear over the final leg, and then a kilometer from the finish line, she ditched her sunglasses, smiled and high-fived flag-waving Spanish fans who created a thunderous celebration by banging on cardboard course dividers.