Ecuador’s Brian Pintado win men’s 20km walk

Brian Pintado from Ecuador has won the first athletics title of the Paris Olympics, emerging away in the final stages to claim gold in the men’s 20km walk.

Pintado coped best with the conditions on a warm morning in Paris, clocking a winning time of one hour 18 minutes 55 seconds.

Caio Bonfim from Brazil was second in 1:19:09 and Spaniard Alvaro Martin took the bronze in 1:19:11.

Australian Declan Tingay was with the lead group through the first 15km and hung tough to finish 11th in 1:19:56, one spot ahead of countryman Rhydian Cowley.

The third Australian, Kyle Swan, was 35th.

Reigning world championships silver medalist Jemima Montag is Australia’s leading medal hope in the women’s 20km race beginning later on Thursday morning.

The walks were answered on a 1km loop course going past the Eiffel Tower and finishing at the Trocadero.