Diego García Carrera
Madrid goes race walking
Spanish race walking has found its greatest champion in Diego García Carrera, former member of the Iberia Talento a bordo team. Proof of his commitment is Madrid Marcha, the event where he brings together the world’s best race walkers. On May 31st, Madrid’s Gran Vía will host a sporting competition that seeks to promote the discipline, bring it closer to the general public and erase certain prejudices.
As a race walker, Diego García Carrera (Madrid, 1996) has a goal that transcends his own athletic career: to promote his discipline and bring it closer to the general public. For this reason, he is behind a project, Madrid Marcha, which will celebrate its fifth edition on May 31st. Regarding the reasons for embarking on such an ambitious undertaking, Diego highlights the following: “The first is that we realised that race walking didn’t have many opportunities to reach people. This was especially painful in a country like Spain, where we’ve had great champions for many years. We were missing a platform that would give us that visibility. The second is that I’m from Madrid and I missed the feeling of competing at home. And the third is that, unfortunately, no one else was taking the plunge. We are very happy with what we have achieved.”
Thanks to the great champions Diego mentioned — Jesús Ángel García Bragado, María Vasco, Valentí Massana, Paquillo Fernández, María Pérez and Álvaro Martín, among others —, race walking has become the athletics discipline that has contributed the most medals to Spain’s Olympic history. It’s a talent that, perhaps, we haven’t fully appreciated. “Where this is most evident,” Diego points out, “is in the lack of initiatives like Madrid Marcha. Medals are very important, but athletes always ask for more support throughout the process, not just when they reap the rewards at a major competition. We train year-round, and that’s when we miss receiving more support. That’s why projects like Madrid Marcha and support like that provided by Iberia".
“Medals are very important, but athletes always ask for more support throughout the process, not just when they reap the rewards at a major competition”
Diego’s dedication, as the sports director of Madrid Marcha — in addition to competing every year —, has been applauded by his colleagues, but above all, by the public he set out to win over. “The response from my fellow race walkers is excellent. The best athletes in the world are eager to come, and that makes our work much easier in terms of organisation. It’s a moment of collective celebration, and a different vibe is created. It’s very exciting. But what has surprised us most is the public’s reception. When you put an event like this on a stage like Gran Vía, in the heart of a major capital like Madrid, you find a lot of people who are attending a live race walking event for the first time, and the reactions are always very positive. We appreciate that people are giving us a chance because we know they’re going to be delighted. It’s a different experience, perfect for a Sunday in Madrid. It’s like experiencing the Games right on the street, and for free.”
Iberia plays a key role in bringing the world’s best race walkers to Madrid. And Diego is grateful: “There’s no better ally than Iberia. First, because we organise a gold-standard event on the world calendar, and we need to connect Madrid with all five continents. The best in the world come here. In fact, this year we are bringing Jefferson Pérez, the legendary Ecuadorian race walker who is our guest this year. Diego’s connection with the airline goes way back, as he was part of the Iberia Talento a bordo Team for several years, an unforgettable experience for him. “It was a privilege,” Diego recalls. “I felt their support not only during major competitions, like the Games, but throughout the entire process, which is something athletes value immensely.” Race walking is still represented on the team by another great champion, María Pérez.
The fight for race walking
Diego’s commitment to his discipline isn’t limited to the Madrid Marcha event. For years, this fight has also been waged behind closed doors. “I was a very young athlete, with no connection to the decision-making world, but I was witnessing a situation that seemed unfair to me because race walking wasn’t being valued the same as other disciplines, and I came to the conclusion that I had to take action.” He did just that, and thanks to his intervention, race walking is no longer in the precarious situation he described to us back in October 2023. “For a time, race walking was truly in danger. In 2023, we were on the verge of being dropped from the Los Angeles programme. The reality is that we’re much better off now. First, because we’re still in the Olympic programme, and second, because World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations) has reinstated both distances, which allows for two different types of race walkers and opens up a wider range of possibilities.” And he sends a message to all those who resign themselves: “In this life, nothing is impossible and, if we try, the possibility of motivating change is in our hands.”
Diego admits that the fact that race walking always seems to be under scrutiny is frustrating, both for him and his teammates. But he insists he’s aware: “It’s a task we’ll have to keep doing for many years. I’m sure that race walking deserves more and has more potential than it’s currently given. When you’re sure, it’s not like having to sell something you don’t believe in; that would be much harder. We know the situation isn’t ideal compared to other disciplines, but we have to be optimistic. It seemed like we were going to disappear, and yet here we are. The effort pays off, and why not leave the next generation of race walkers a better future than the one we’ve enjoyed?”
“For a time, race walking was truly in danger. In 2023, we were on the verge of being dropped from the Los Angeles programme. The reality is that we’re much better off now”
A promising future for Spanish race walking. Diego, a true expert in the field, highlights the talent of the younger athletes: “The average level has improved compared to a few years ago. We’ve continued to produce great champions, but perhaps there wasn’t such a widespread network of good race walkers throughout Spain. They are working well, and our coaches continue to succeed in sharing their knowledge and developing new talent. But there’s always room for improvement… Our goal should be that every child who starts athletics in Spain has the chance to at least try race walking. Then, each child can choose their favourite discipline. What I don’t want is for them to experience what many of us did, initially not having that opportunity.”
Finally, we asked Diego to make a case for race walking, one that would persuade those who are hesitant to visit Madrid’s Gran Vía. And, with his usual enthusiasm, he launches into a tirade: “To begin with, race walking is the oldest sport because it consists of walking, and we all know how to do that. As fast as possible, obviously. Furthermore, we’ve been an Olympic sport since 1908, and today we’re one of the most global disciplines. Almost anyone can practice it and compete; all you need is a pair of running shoes. That’s why we see champions from all five continents. At Madrid Marcha, people need to know that the race is shorter than they think: the winner will finish in under 40 minutes. We’re faster race walking than most people are running. Besides, we have to master our technique, and the role of the judges has its share of controversy, which is always captivating. And finally, it’s a sport practiced outdoors and can be used to promote a city’s most attractive spots.” With that, Diego extends an invitation to other cities to embrace race walking.
