Sofia Fiorini of Italy shattered the women's marathon race walking world record by over nine minutes, while Spain's Maria Perez set a half-marathon world record at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Key facts
- Sofia Fiorini of Italy broke the women's marathon race walking world record by more than nine minutes.
- Maria Perez of Spain set a world record in the half-marathon race walk.
- Both records came at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
- The achievements were reported by the BBC.
Two world records fell in the women’s race walking events at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, as Italy’s Sofia Fiorini and Spain’s Maria Perez each rewrote the record books, according to the BBC.
Fiorini produced the standout performance of the two, smashing the women’s marathon race walking world record by over nine minutes. A margin of that size is unusual in endurance events, where records typically fall by seconds or minutes.
In the half-marathon, Maria Perez of Spain also set a world record, adding a second landmark result to the championships’ race walking programme.
The performances came during the European Athletics Championships being held in Birmingham in 2026, an event that brings together the continent’s leading track and field athletes.
The BBC reported both records, highlighting the scale of Fiorini’s achievement in the marathon distance alongside Perez’s half-marathon mark.
Why it matters
World records are the headline moments of any major championships, and two falling in the same discipline draws attention to race walking, an event that often receives less coverage than sprints or distance running. Fiorini's margin of more than nine minutes is especially notable for the sport.
Frequently asked questions
Who broke the race walking world records in Birmingham?
Sofia Fiorini of Italy broke the women's marathon race walking world record, and Maria Perez of Spain set a world record in the half-marathon, according to the BBC.
By how much did Sofia Fiorini break the record?
According to the BBC, Fiorini beat the women's marathon race walking world record by over nine minutes.
Where and when did these records take place?
The records were set at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.