Yohann Diniz (born 1 January 1978) is a French race walker. He set the world record for the 50 km race walk of 3:32:33 in 2014, and the world record for the 50,000 metres track walk of 3:35:27 in 2011.
Career He won the gold medal in the 50 km race at the 2006 European Championships in a personal best time of 3:41:39 hours. He then repeated the feat at the 2010 European Championships in a personal best time of 3:40:37 hours.
In 2007 Diniz won the European Race Walking Cup at Royal Leamington Spa with a French record time of 1:18:58 over 20 km. He then won the silver medal in the 50 km race at the 2007 World Championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing on an extremely humid day, Diniz was forced to withdraw from the 50 km walking race after about 30 km from the starting line because of pain in the stomach and thigh.
In 2009, he achieved the world's best performance for the 50 km walk – 3hr 38 min 45 sec.
He set a world record time of 3:35:27 in the 50,000 metres track walk in March 2011, defeating Thierry Toutain's previous world mark, set in 2000, by more than five minutes.Warburton, Paul (12 March 2011). Rolling Stones and champagne accompany World 50,000m race walk track record for Diniz. IAAF. Retrieved on 13 March 2011.
At 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, Diniz was disqualified from the 50 km walk for three red cards.
Diniz improved his 20 km walk time to 1:17:43 hours at the Memorial Mario Albisetti in March 2012, placing second behind Alex Schwazer.Sampaolo, Diego (19 March 2012). Schwazer clocks sensational 1:17:30 in Lugano . IAAF. Retrieved on 25 March 2012.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Diniz was disqualified from the 50 km walk immediately after crossing the finish line in eighth place, for taking a bottle of water at the 38 kilometre mark outside a designated refreshment zone.
At the 2014 European Athletics Championships, Diniz set a new world record for the 50 km walk in 3:32:33, 1 minute 41 seconds faster than the previous record despite stopping to ask for a Portuguese flag – in homage to his late Portuguese grandmother – to wave a few hundred metres from the finishing line.Yohann Diniz stops to celebrate before breaking 50km race walk world record, NBC
At the 2015 French national walk championships in Arles, on 8 March 2015, Diniz set a new world record for the 20 km walk in 1:17:02. His record only lasted a week. Before it could be officially ratified, it was surpassed by Yusuke Suzuki.
In July 2015, Diniz announced his withdrawal from the upcoming 2015 World Championships in Athletics because of persistent pain in his inguinal ligament that would result in him undergoing an operation soon.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics he led the race, but due to gastrointestinal issues, he fainted multiple times midrace. Nevertheless, he was able to recover and finished in 8th place, six minutes behind the winner.
In 2017 he finally won the 2017 IAAF World Championships in the 50 km walk in London with the second-ever best time on the distance (the best one is also his) : 3 hours 33 minutes and 11 seconds, finishing 8 minutes ahead of the two Japanese competitors who earned the silver and bronze medals.
In 2019, he competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar. He did not finish his race.
Performance at major championships Representing 2003European Race Walking CupCheboksary, Russia40th20 km1:31:452004IAAF World Race Walking Cup Naumburg, Germany40th20 km1:24:282005European Race Walking CupMiskolc, Hungary4th50 km3:45:17Mediterranean GamesAlmería, Spain –20 kmDQWorld Championships Helsinki, Finland –50 km2006European Championships Gothenburg, Sweden1st50 km3:41:39 PB2007European Race Walking CupRoyal Leamington Spa, England1st20 km1:18.58 NRWorld ChampionshipsOsaka, Japan2nd50 km3:44:222008Olympic Games Beijing, China –50 km2009European Race Walking CupMetz, France8th20 km1:26:59World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany12th50 km3:49:032010European ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain1st50 km3:40:37 PBIAAF World ChampionshipsChihuahua, Mexico –20 km2011World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea –50 km2012Olympic GamesLondon, England –50 km2013World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia10th50 km3:45:18European Race Walking CupDudince, Slovakia1st50 km3:41:072014European ChampionshipsZürich, Switzerland1st50 km3:32:33 WR2015French national ChampionshipsArles, France1st20 km1:17:02 European Race Walking CupMurcia, Spain3rd20 km1:20:375thTeam - 20 km58 pts2017World Championships in Athletics London, England1st50 km3:33:12
References
External links