Walking race facts for kids

Race walking is a special kind of long-distance sport. It's part of track and field, which includes running, jumping, and throwing. What makes race walking different from running is a very important rule: one of your feet must always look like it's touching the ground.

A race walker competing in a 20 km event.

Because walkers can't lift both feet at the same time, they take shorter steps than runners. To go fast, race walkers need to move their feet very quickly! They can reach speeds similar to Olympic 400-meter runners. But they have to keep this speed up for a long time. In the Olympics, race walking events are 20 kilometers (about 12.4 miles) and 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) long.

What is Race Walking?

Race walking is a challenging sport that combines speed and endurance. Athletes train hard to master the unique technique. This technique helps them move quickly while following the strict rules. It's a test of both physical fitness and careful movement.

The Race Walking Rules

There are two main rules in race walking:

• Contact: One foot must always be in contact with the ground. This means you can't "fly" or have both feet in the air at the same time. Judges watch closely to make sure walkers follow this rule.
• Straight Leg: The leg that is moving forward must be straight (not bent at the knee) from the moment it touches the ground until it passes directly under the body. This rule helps ensure the walking motion is smooth and correct.

Judges are placed along the race course to watch the athletes. If a judge sees a walker break a rule, they give a warning. If a walker gets too many warnings, they can be disqualified from the race. This makes the sport very fair and exciting.

How Race Walkers Train

Race walkers train very hard to build their strength and stamina. They practice their technique for many hours. Their training includes long walks, speed workouts, and exercises to make their muscles strong. They also focus on their diet and rest to stay healthy. This intense training helps them compete in long races.

Race Walking Events

Race walking events are usually held on roads or on a track. The distances can vary, but the most famous ones are the Olympic distances.

Olympic Race Walking Distances

At the Olympic Games, there are two main race walking events:

• 20 Kilometers: This race is about 12.4 miles long. Both men and women compete in the 20 km event. It requires a lot of speed and endurance.
• 50 Kilometers: This is a much longer race, about 31 miles. It is one of the longest events in track and field. Only men currently compete in the 50 km event at the Olympics. This race is a true test of a walker's stamina and mental toughness.

These events are exciting to watch because athletes push their bodies to the limit. They also have to maintain their technique perfectly throughout the race.

History of Race Walking

Race walking has a long history. It became popular in the 19th century. People would hold walking competitions, sometimes over very long distances.

Early Competitions

In the early days, walking races were often called "pedestrianism." These events were very popular, and people would gather to watch athletes walk for many hours or even days. The rules were not always as strict as they are today. Over time, the rules became more defined to make the sport fair and consistent.

Race Walking in the Olympics

Race walking has been part of the Olympic Games for a long time. The first Olympic race walking event was held in 1908. Since then, it has been a regular part of the athletics program. Women's race walking events were added to the Olympics later, showing how the sport has grown and become more inclusive.

Images for kids

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  Shaul Ladany (centre), a race walker in 1969

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  Liu Hong "flying" (out of contact with the ground) in sight of the judges during the Women's 20 kilometres walk at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics where she won bronze

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  Men's 20-km walk during the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland. The walker on the right appears to be illegal, but an infraction is only committed when the loss of contact is visible to the human eye.

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  The start of the 3500 m walk final at the 1908 Olympics