# João Vieira (race walker)

João Paulo Garcia Vieira (born 20 February 1976) is a Portuguese racewalker.
He placed tenth for Portugal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the 20 km walk and third at the 2006 European Championships. At the 2012 Summer Olympics he finished in 11th in the 20 km walk. He became, at 43, the oldest medalist ever at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, finishing second at the 50 km race walk. In 2021, he placed 5th at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the men's 50 kilometres walk and set a season best.
His twin brother Sérgio Vieira is a race walker as well.

## Achievements

| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Portugal ||||||
| 1994 | World Junior Championships | Lisbon, Portugal | 11th | 10,000 m | 42:26.17 |
| 1997 | World Race Walking Cup | Poděbrady, Czech Republic | 28th | 20 km | 1:20:59 |
| 1997 | European U23 Championships | Turku, Finland | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 1998 | European Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 20th | 20 km | 1:29.38 |
| 1999 | World Race Walking Cup | Mézidon-Canon, France | 21st | 20 km | 1:24:25 |
| 1999 | World Championships | Seville, Spain | — | 20 km | DSQ |
| 2000 | Ibero-American Championships | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 2nd | 20,000 m | 1:26:37.78 |
| 2000 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia | — | 20 km | DNS |
| 2001 | European Race Walking Cup | Dudince, Slovakia | 15th | 20 km | 1:22:52 |
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | — | 20 km | DSQ |
| 2002 | World Race Walking Cup | Turin, Italy | 11th | 20 km | 1:24:13 |
| 2002 | European Championships | Munich, Germany | 12th | 20 km | 1:21:55 |
| 2003 | World Championships | Paris, France | 17th | 20 km | 1:22:07 |
| 2004 | World Race Walking Cup | Naumburg, Germany | 17th | 20 km | 1:21:45 |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 10th | 20 km | 1:22:19 |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2006 | World Race Walking Cup | A Coruña, Spain | 8th | 20 km | 1:20:33 |
| 2006 | European Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 3rd | 20 km | 1:20:09 |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 25th | 20 km | 1:27:44 |
| 2008 | World Race Walking Cup | Cheboksary, Russia | 15th | 20 km | 1:21:13 |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 32nd | 20 km | 1:25:05 |
| 2009 | European Race Walking Cup | Metz, France | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 10th | 20 km | 1:21:43 |
| 2010 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 2nd | 20 km | 1:20:49 |
| 2011 | European Race Walking Cup | Olhão, Portugal | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 15th | 20 km | 1:23:26 |
| 2012 | World Race Walking Cup | Saransk, Russia | 19th | 20 km | 1:22:11 |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 11th | 20 km | 1:20:41 |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | — | 50 km | DNF |
| 2013 | European Race Walking Cup | Dudince, Slovakia | 7th | 20 km | 1:23:03 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 3rd | 20 km | 1:22:05 |
| 2014 | World Race Walking Cup | Taicang, China | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2015 | European Race Walking Cup | Murcia, Spain | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 36th | 20 km | 1:25:49 |
| 2016 | World Race Walking Cup | Rome, Italy | 30th | 20 km | 1:22:39 |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | — | 20 km | DNF |
| 2017 | European Race Walking Cup | Poděbrady, Czech Republic | 14th | 20 km | 1:22:42 |
| 2017 | World Championships | London, United Kingdom | 11th | 50 km | 3:45:28 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 5th | 50 km | 3:51:28 |