On the 40th anniversary of its Olympic title in the 50 kilometre race walkwhich is celebrated this Sunday by the Mexican Raul Gonzalez shared the key that helped him win gold in 1984 and assured that it is the same as remains in force today.
“The key to becoming an Olympic champion is the same as in my time: a lot of work. If anyone knows another way, let me know, but I haven’t found it after 50 years,” González said in an interview with EFE.
He was one of the best Latin American athletes of the 20th century, who won a silver medal in the 20-kilometer walk on August 3, 1984. at the Los Angeles Olympics and won gold in the 50m with a time of 3h 47:26 and almost six minutes ahead.
“I remember the details. Halfway through the race there were about eight of us left; I was going at a pace of about 22:30 minutes per five kilometers. The hardest part was always between 35 and 40, but I was in great shape and that’s when I accelerated,” he recalls.
At 72, his hair has lost its blackness and he has gained a few kilos in weight, but otherwise he is a man similar to the one who won the World Cups in Valencia 1981 and Bergen 1983, as well as two Pan American Games. His memory has not taken note of the passage of time and it shows.
“At 32, several people fell behind; I accelerated with the intention of getting away. The only one following me was the Italian Mauricio Damilano, but he suffered a heat stroke at 41 and I was left ahead. I did the last five kilometres in 21:06 minutes and when I entered the stadium everything exploded inside me,” he confesses.
With a strong left arm, Raul tried to be a good baseball pitcher. His family didn’t have the money to enroll him in a children’s academy, so he started running.
“I managed to record 2:06 minutes in the 800-meter dash. At 17, I participated in several events in a university tournament, I won the race walk and eight months later I was the national youth champion. From then on, I continued,” he recalls.
The image of Raúl González entering the stadium, with a fit of tears in the last few meters, is one of the most remembered in Mexican sport. in the last century. Behind him, the silver medal went to Bo Gustafsson of Sweden, with a time of 3h 53:19 and the bronze medal to Sandro Belluci of Italy, with a time of 3h 58:30.
“I was very strong, but in 1977 I had fainted at kilometer 46 of a race and I knew I couldn’t relax. Before me, the marchers came out of the tunnel and walked 100 meters to the finish. In Los Angeles we walked 500 meters and the people gave me a standing ovation for longer, which added to the excitement,” he says.
Raúl González admits that he had a talent for athletics, but the reason he won the Olympic title 40 years ago today was more related to his obsessions.
“Winning or not winning is up to you. Attitude, determination, it all depends on you.; you must overcome apathy, insecurity and lack of determination. Setting goals, working, is decisive; when you succeed, your environment makes you vain and egotistical, but you must keep your feet on the ground.”
Mexican race walkers marked an era in the last quarter of the 20th century with three gold medals at the Olympic Games, by Daniel Bautista and Ernesto Canto, in the 20 kilometres, and by Raúl González, in the 50. Carlos Mercenario was runner-up in Barcelona 1992 and Bernardo Segura, bronze in 1996. Afterwards, the Mexicans lowered their level and in Paris 2024 they did not win anything.
As a coach, Raúl González believes that few people can escape distractions these days. He insists to his athletes that sporting life is short and success comes only with dedication and a priest’s faith. He does not criticise and avoids comparing times because the current one is different, although, he believes, the main things remain the same.
“We have smartphones, technology and advancements, but the achievements are achieved with the same old thing: absolute commitment and hard work.”he insists.
*With information from EFE
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