Ecuador's Pintado walks to first Olympic athletics gold

Ecuador's Brian Pintado wins Olympic gold in men's 20km walk, leaving rivals behind in Paris spectacle.

Ecuador's Brian Pintado won the first athletics Olympic gold medal of the Paris Games on Thursday with victory in the men's 20-kilometre walk.

Brazil's Caio Bonfim improved on his fourth from Rio in 2016 taking silver with Spain's world champion Alvaro Martin taking the bronze.

It was Ecuador's second Olympic title in the event after Jefferson Perez's gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Pintado appeared to be clutching a family photograph as as he crossed the line before being connected to loved one via a live link.

The race was delayed half an hour due to a thunderstorm but once they started at Trocadero, Bonfim took off as if he wanted to make up for the lost time.

The 33-year-old and his rivals may not have had the time to take it in but for spectators and viewers the race was a splendid spectacle as they did 20 laps, along the banks of the Seine and passing by the Eiffel Tower as well as Trocadero.

He was gradually reeled in but stayed amongst the leaders and was ahead at the halfway mark.