Raúl González Rodríguez (born February 29, 1952) is a retired Mexican race walker. He was born at Rancho Las Lajas, Municipality of China, State of Nuevo Leon.
He set the world record in the 50-kilometer racewalk twice in 1978 (3:45:52 and 3:41:20). As of October 2011, it still was the North American record.
Gonzalez won the 50 km racewalk at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup in 1977, 1981 and 1983.
He was the winner of two medals in race-walking at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles (silver in 20 km and gold in 50 km). Gonzalez set an Olympic record winning the 50-kilometer event (31 miles) at 3 hours, 47 minutes, 26 seconds.[1]
Achievements
Representing Mexico |
1971 |
Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics |
Kingston, Jamaica |
3rd |
10 km |
1974 |
Central American and Caribbean Games |
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
1st |
20 km |
1977 |
World Race Walking Cup |
Milton Keynes, England |
1st |
50 km |
1978 |
Central American and Caribbean Games |
Medellín, Colombia |
2nd |
20 km |
|
Mexico City, Mexico |
World record |
50 km |
|
Poděbrady, Czechoslovakia |
World record |
50 km |
1979 |
Pan American Games |
San Juan, Puerto Rico |
1st |
50 km |
1980 |
Olympic Games |
Moscow, Soviet Union |
6th |
20 km |
DNF |
50 km |
1981 |
World Race Walking Cup |
Valencia, Spain |
1st |
50 km |
Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics |
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
2nd |
20 km |
1982 |
Central American and Caribbean Games |
Havana, Cuba |
2nd |
20 km |
1st |
50 km |
1983 |
World Race Walking Cup |
Bergen, Norway |
1st |
50 km |
Pan American Games |
Caracas, Venezuela |
2nd |
20 km |
1st |
50 km |
World Championships in Athletics |
Helsinki, Finland |
9th |
20 km |
5th |
50 km |
1984 |
Olympic Games |
Los Angeles, United States |
2nd |
20 km |
1st |
50 km |
1987 |
Pan American Games |
Indianapolis, United States |
2nd |
50 km |
World Championships in Athletics |
Rome, Italy |
11th |
50 km |
Awards
Member of the national racewalk team that received Mexico's National Sports Prize in 1977. Gonzalez received the prize individually in 1978.[2]
Sports executive positions
Director of National Sports Commission of Mexico from 1988 to 1994.
Executive president of the Mexican Professional Baseball League from 2002 to 2004.[3]
References
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| 20 kilometres | |
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| 50 kilometres | |
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- 1966: 10 km walk (track)
- 1970 – present: 20 km walk (road)
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Records |
Preceded by Bernd Kannenberg |
Men's 50km Walk World Record Holder April 23, 1978 – March 13, 1983 |
Succeeded by Josep Marín |
Persondata |
Name |
Gonzalez, Raul |
Alternative names |
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Short description |
Athletics (sport) competitor |
Date of birth |
February 29, 1952 |
Place of birth |
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Date of death |
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Place of death |
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