Francisco Javier Fernandez Peláez, “Paquillo” is the current holder of the European record in 20 km race walking with 1:17:22, and which, when set in 2002 was the World record.
He has won the Walk Race Silver Medal at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka in 2007 and was the Olympic runner-up in Walk racing (Athens´04) and 7th (Olympic diploma) in Sidney´00. He was also World runner-up in Paris´03 and Helsinki´05.
In Spain, Paquillo Fernandez is not only an athlete, he is the bench mark in Walk Racing. A leader able to mobilize a whole region to support him in any event in which he takes part, an athlete comfortable with his people and watchful for the young, practicing sport as a way of life, and promoting Walk Racing wherever he goes.
Currently, Paquillo Fernandez is the manager of the “Manuel Alcalde” Walk Racing Andalusian Centre in Guadix, promoting the sport among the local young people with the aim of forming and teaching them the secrets of this discipline.
In January 2008 he was voted Athlete of the Year by readers of the Spanish magazine “Atletismo Español" for the fourth year running.
| Significant Results to date |
| 2008 |
- World record 10km at Spanish national Championships in Tenerife
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| 2007 |
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| 2006 |
- European champion - Göteborg 2006
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| 2005 |
- World runner-up - Helsinki 2005
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| 2004 |
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| 2003 |
- World runner-up - Paris 2003
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| 2002 |
- European champion - Munich 2002
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| 1998 |
- Bronze medal. European games - Budapest 1998
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- Seven times champion of Spain in 20 Km Race walking
- European record holder in 20 Km Race walking