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The 39th edition of the “Gran Premio Internacional de Marcha Cantones de A Coruña – Sergio Vazquez” will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in A Coruña (ESP). The competition has earned the Gold label in the 2026 World Race Walking Tour of World Athletics.
We once again enjoy the best race walkers in the world on the streets of A Coruña. This time on a new course, with spectacular views, in one of the most beautiful areas of the city, it will wind along Avenida de la Marina and the Muelle Darsena de Oza. The location is a few minutes’ walk from the Hotel Eurostar Atlantico (Avenida do Porto 4), which, as in the past two years, will host athletes, companions, and judges.
There will be a pleasant surprise for 150 persons between athletes and coaches in this 39th edition of one of Europe’s most beloved competitions. Sandro Damilano, with the collaboration of Nicola Maggio and the advice of Maurizio and 
Giorgio Damilano, have dedicated the last few months to preparing a statistical/historical volume of over 900 pages entitled “The Fantastic Journey into the World Race Walking“. Another 30 copies will be made available by the organizers to journalists, authorities, and race walking judges.
The book, fresh off the press, is published by “Fusta Editore, Saluzzo, Cuneo (ITA) – (https://fustaeditore.it/ – mail: info@fustaeditore.it).
Conceived as a personal gift from the authors to the world of race walking, this volume is distributed free of charge to preserve and spread the technical and historical culture of a discipline built on toil and talent, ensuring that the memory of its protagonists lives on. This book is an essential tool for coaches, journalists, and anyone wishing to understand the past, present, and future of world race walking. The book is written in english language.
The authors have tried to convey their love for race walking into a book. From these experiences came the idea for a statistical book to document the evolution of race walking, from its first Olympic appearances to the 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília (included). The volume provides a detailed analysis of 19 events: from the Olympic Games and World Championships (including team events) to the main championships of the five continents, down to the most important youth competitions.
For every single race (wherever historical research made it possible), the book documents the top three finishers with original
photographs, recovered from historical archives to give a face back to the protagonists of the past and celebrate the champions of today.
Completing the work is a section dedicated to the profiles of the greatest performers of all time: from the pioneers of the early twentieth century to the stars of the present, in both the men’s and women’s categories.
The volume also includes exclusive interviews with several “heel-and-toe” protagonists, a history of the World Race Walking Committee, and the author’s professional journey.
Finally the authors would like to take this opportunity to thank the Galician Athletics Federation and, in particular, Dolores Rojas Suarez, who immediately and enthusiastically supported this initiative in A Coruña.
Nicola Maggio and Sandro Damilano
