France’s Yohann Diniz broke the world record in the 50km race walk at the European Championships on Friday with so much time to spare that he was able to stop and grab a Portuguese flag to carry across the finish line along with the French flag.
Here’s video of his finish in Zurich.
Diniz, who carried the Portuguese flag in honor of his Portuguese grandmother who died earlier this year, completed 50km in 3 hours, 32 minutes and 33 seconds. He broke the world record from 2008 by 1:41.
“This is the best day of my life,” Diniz, who suffered from stomach pain throughout the race, told reporters.
How fast was the Frenchman? Diniz’s walking would have easily qualified to RUN the Boston Marathon.
To put @yohanndiniz's 3:32:33 50km race walk world record in perspective, that's 6:50 mile pace. Or 2:59:22 for the marathon.
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) August 15, 2014
22 years after finishing in the top 10 at the 1992 Olympics, 44-year-old Jesus Angel Garcia finishes eighth in the 50km walk at @Euro_Champs
— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) August 15, 2014