Ecuadorian race walkers Rafael Arrobo (l.) and masked man David Hurtado. © APA/afp / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Colorful finish: Walker from Ecuador drops mask

Ecuadorian David Hurtado was the big eye-catcher: wearing a colorful mask, the walker reached the finish line in Tokyo's National Stadium after 20 kilometers at the World Athletics Championships - and thus attracted attention.

September 20, 2025

From: dpa/sn

"I got the mask from my physiotherapist in the stadium for the last few hundred meters," said Hurtado, who ran an unspectacular race on the penultimate day of the World Championships and finished 19th.

"Yes, it's simply a tradition in our culture," said the masked man about his wool World Cup decoration, adding: "It represents our origins. In the past, people danced with this mask and did traditional things." The mask has two faces, explained the 26-year-old. "The first face represents good, the other evil."

The winning trio in the walking event at the World Championships in Tokyo. © ANSA / FRANCK ROBICHON

Hurtado even stole the show from world champion Caio Bonfim of Brazil. He prevailed ahead of Zhaozhao Wang of China and Spaniard Paul McGrath. The 20-kilometer walk was particularly bitter for Japan's Toshikazu Yamanichi. With the World Championship hosts on the brink of their first gold medal, he received a two-minute penalty about four kilometers from the finish due to three disqualification requests. The dream of Japan's first title at its home World Championships was shattered.