Magnificent Montag delivers record performance for Olympic bronze

Jemima Montag produced an inspired 20km Race Walk performance and smashed her Australian Record to win bronze underneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

This medal on the opening day of athletics at Paris 2024, is Australia’s first women’s race walk medal since Jane Saville’s bronze in the same event at Athens 2004. Montag (VIC, Brent Vallance) was confident of joining Jane with her own piece of Olympic history.

“It feels like a dream come true to say that I’m an Olympic medallist and the first since Jane,” Jemima said. 

“I had belief and a good feeling this week. I think my Instagram caption after Tokyo was ‘sixth at my first Olympics, a podium in Paris? A girl can dream’.” 

It took the world record holder from China, Yang Jiayu, and the two-time world champion from Spain, Maria Perez, to keep the Australian from further up the podium. 

Yang was out on her own for fifteen kilometres and hung on to win in 1:25:54, her season’s best. The two-time world champion of Spain Perez was just six seconds ahead of Jemima. The Australian’s time of 1:26:25 was 44 seconds faster than her Oceania Record set in February.

Australia’s other competitors Rebecca Henderson (VIC, Simon Baker) and Olivia Sandery (SA, Jared Tallent) had a tough race in the hot and humid conditions. Rebecca finished 31st in 1:34:22, a similar position she held in the 45-woman field throughout the competition.

Olivia was walking well and in 27th position at the 10km and 15km marks before succumbing to the heat in the final kilometre and was unable to finish. She received immediate medical treatment and is recovering well. 

Jemima was fifth at the 15km mark, after a race of many moves. She covered what she could but she found it hard to know which ones to over and when she was fifth at 15km she wasn’t confident she could make the podium until she got some family inspiration. 

“I was really questioning my desire for a medal and then I heard my sister who had almost lost her voice scream with a crackling voice,’this is your race, this is your race’ and about 17kms I could see third and fourth and it was just a matter of committing to that last three kms. 

“As I moved into third it was good for me to be focusing on silver and being the hunter rather than worrying about being the hunted.”

After winning silver at the world championships last year she knew she was capable of winning the Olympic medal she had trained for years chasing but 10 weeks out from the Games she was worried about her form and worried she was going to let everyone down. But she was able to change her mindset this week.

“I had a real sense of calm and a sense of wanting the medal but not needing the medal. And that’s a really critical difference. It's like I want it and I'm ready and willing and able to be tough and give it a crack. 

“But I don't need it to feel worthy and loved and appreciated and to know who I am outside of all this. So that was a good mindset to go in with.”

She was inspired by seeing Jess Fox jump up and down on the podium so she did the same at the victory ceremony at the Trocadéro venue with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Declan and Rhydian achieve top-12 result

Earlier in the day, Australia held a trio of men's 20 km race walks in slightly cooler but still steamy conditions. 

In a tactical race early, Declan Tingay (WA, Brent Vallance) produced a fantastic 11th place finish, in a season best of 1:19.56, one only 30 seconds from the podium. Australian athletics co-captain Rhydian Cowley (VIC, Brent Vallance) was one spot back in 12th (1:20.04) with an impressive race, and Kyle Swan (VIC, Jared Tallent) wasn’t able to deliver his normal best today placing 35th (1:23.32).

Brian Daniel Pintado from Ecuador had a breakthrough performance at his third Olympics, winning the first athletics gold medal in Paris in 2024 at 1:18.55. Brazilian Caio Bonfim was 14 seconds back in silver, and Alvaro Martin (ESP) who was fourth in Tokyo claimed the bronze (1:19.11). 

After a gruelling race, Declan ended up in a sprint to the finish and a three-way photo finish. He ended with the same time as the athletes in 9th and 10th. 

Declan and Rhydian were in the lead group for the majority of the race to try and cover the big moves and changes of pace.

“I got into that lead pack and I made a commitment to stick with them,” Declan said.

“But in the end their commitment was a bit bigger than my commitment. I ended up falling off a bit and came back in the last lap.

“I'm pretty happy with the effort but I want to improve on that placing. It’s a season’s best at the Olympic Games so that’s a good sign.”

Rhydian was aiming for a top-8 for it to be a great day but happy with the top-12.

“It was a challenging race and hard to get a rhythm but I’m pretty happy with that and now we can go and prepare for the relay, and look to get a better placing there,” Rhydian said.

Australia will field two Mixed Relay Walk teams on Wednesday, 7 August. One male and one female make up a team, with both athletes walking twice. The four legs are equal to a marathon in distance, 42.195 kilometres. This is the first time that this event will be held at the Olympics. The Australian coaches will decide the make-up of each team based on the athletes' recovery after the individual events.

By Andrew Reid, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee 
Posted 1/08/2024