Brian Pintado and Glenda Morejon of Ecuador took silver in 2:51.22, while Australia's Rhydian Cowley and Jemima Montag claimed bronze, clocking in at 2:51:38.

Spain and Ecuador led from the start, but Ecuador’s Pintado picked up two red cards during the race along the banks of the Seine, passing the Eiffel Tower in central Paris.

Red cards signify a walker has either lost contact with the ground or a knee is bent when the foot strikes the ground. A third red would have meant a three-minute suspension. 

China’s Zhang Jun was flagged with a disastrous third red card and was sent to the penalty zone on the third and penultimate leg. He was paired with Yang Jiayu: the winner of the women's 20km earlier in the Games.

Morejon played it safe during her leg, battling neck to neck with Perez. However, the Spaniard switched gears on the final leg —ditching her sunglasses, smiled and greeted flag-waving Spanish fans who turned out to support them.

Perez triumphantly crossed the finish line with a 51-second lead, where her partner was waiting for her with a bottle of bubbly, eager to celebrate their historic win. 

The marathon race walk mixed relay is a new event added to the Olympic programme for Paris 2024. Twenty-five teams participated in the race, each made up of one male and one female athlete, who will complete the marathon distance (42.195km) in four stages of approximately 10km each, alternating in the race.

Martin also won a bronze medal and his partner Perez a silver in their individual 20km race walk events. They are the first Spaniards to become double-medallists in a single Olympic Games. The Spanish duo also hold European and World championship titles to their name.