Brazilian race walker loses wedding ring in race, wins gold

[ad_1] Brazilian race walker Caio Bonfim achieved his life-long dream of successful gold in a significant championships on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday.

However the victory got here with a value.

The 34-year-old powered dwelling to win the boys's 20km race stroll forward of Zhaozhao Wang of China, with Spain's Paul McGrath successful bronze.

However earlier within the race, he realised he had misplaced his marriage ceremony ring.

"I misplaced my marriage ceremony ring within the third kilometre," he stated, though he did not appear too apprehensive.

"I consider my spouse shall be OK as a result of I gained in the present day."

Caio Bonfim along with his marriage ceremony ring on his left hand, gained silver within the 35km. ( Getty Photographs: Christian Petersen )

The person from Brasilia completed second within the 35km stroll on the opening weekend in Tokyo, including a silver medal to go together with the 2 world championship bronze medals he gained in London 2017 and Budapest 2023.

He additionally gained silver within the 20km stroll on the Paris Olympics in 2024 and has three particular person medals on the Pan American Video games, two silvers and a bronze.

"After taking silver within the 35km stroll, my spouse instructed me to consider I'd win gold," Bonfim stated.

"I didn't know I used to be in first place. I overtook the Chinese language and Spanish athlete on the final lap however I assumed I used to be second and accelerated to attempt to win a medal.

"It was a tricky race and I knew I may develop because the race progressed, that I may join with the main group. I steadily moved up just a few locations."

After so many close to misses, Bonfim stated this gold medal was a becoming reward for his perseverance.

"It is a world championships of resilience," he stated.

"That is my eighth world championships. I didn't end my first one in 2013 and I gained gold in the present day.

"That is my fourth world championships medal and I'm honoured to be a part of the identical era of athletes as [400m hurdler] Alison dos Santos."

Dos Santos, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, gained silver within the 400m hurdles in Tokyo on Friday evening.

"Folks in Brazil can now say, 'Caio Bonfim gained medals as properly," he stated.

Caio Bonfim gained his first main world title, but it surely got here at a price. ( Getty Photographs: NurPhoto/Andrzej Iwanczuk )

Now Bonfim, who additionally wears a hoop on his proper hand, which didn't fall off, has to go dwelling — sans marriage ceremony ring, which he wears on his proper hand — with a distinct sort of jewelry.

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