The thrilling 2025 World Athletics Race Walking Tour / National Race Walking Grand Prix / World Athletics Championships Trial kicked off last weekend in Taicang, East China's Jiangsu province.

The 2025 World Athletics Race Walking Tour takes place in Taicang. [WeChat account: tcfbgw]

The event featured 10 km and 20 km race walking events, as well as a marathon race walking mixed relay. A total of 510 athletes from 12 countries and regions participated, including Chinese Olympic champions Liu Hong, Yang Jiayu, and Zhang Jun as well as Tokyo Olympic race-walking champion Massimo Stano.

Yang Jiayu crosses the finish line in the marathon race walking mixed relay. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

A key highlight was the marathon mixed relay, where Yang and her teammate Shi Shengji won the grueling about 42.20-km race in their debut partnership.

"Even though my teammate and I received warnings, we stayed focused on our plan and managed to finish the race. I really enjoy racing in Taicang, and the course just keeps getting better," Yang said.

Since 2010, Taicang has hosted 14 national and world-class race walking events, including the 2014 IAAF (the International Association of Athletics Federations) World Race Walking Cup and the 2018 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships.

An aerial view of Taicang's cityscape. [WeChat account: tcfbgw]