"Track and field is a battle not only against your rivals but also against yourself. It's a sport of sacrifice, where when strength runs out, athletes must find the energy from deep within their souls to reach the finish line," the Spanish newspaper Marca commented on August 12th.

Ermakova is the latest example of this fighting spirit. In a courageous display on 25/7, she won the Russian U23 10,000m title, crossing the finish line in a state of near-collapse but still grasping victory. After finishing, she fainted and had to be taken away in a wheelchair.

"Four laps before the end, my legs felt like cotton," Maria told Russian media after the race.

In the final, Maria dominated, lapping her opponents after 27 minutes. About 20 meters from the finish line, she fell and couldn't get up.

However, the lead she built during most of the race allowed her a much-needed rest. After a few seconds, she managed to stand, staggering to the finish line with a time of 32 minutes 24.44 seconds, just 11 seconds shy of the national U23 record.

"I never thought about giving up," Maria affirmed. "I don't clearly remember the moment I finished and I want to relive that feeling. I'm glad I'm alive; it's like I'm immortal. Now I'm here, enjoying this moment. The feeling of victory really only came later because right after I finished, I didn't understand what was happening."

In 2024, Maria won the bronze medal in the 5,000m at the BRICS Games in Kazan and placed third in the 5,000m at the Russian Cup in Cheboksary.

In February 2025, Maria broke the Russian U23 indoor 3,000m record with a time of 8 minutes 50.21 seconds, surpassing the previous record held since 2011. Her goal for 2025 is to break the U23 10,000m record of 32 minutes 1.83 seconds set by Gulshat Fazlitdinova in 2013.

Hong Duy (Marca)