Canadian race walker Evan Dunfee achieved a remarkable feat at the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, clinching gold in the men’s 35-kilometre race walk. Competing in his seventh world championship, the 34-year-old from Richmond, B.C., crossed the finish line with a time of two hours, 28 minutes, and 22 seconds, outpacing the second-place finisher, Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, by 33 seconds. Japan’s Hayato Katsuki rounded out the podium, finishing third with a time of 2:29:16.
Dunfee’s victory comes on the heels of a strong career in race walking. He previously earned bronze in the 50K walk at the 2019 world championships and also secured Canada’s first Olympic medal in the event at the Tokyo Olympics. In 2022, he claimed gold in the 10K walk at the Commonwealth Games. More recently, Dunfee finished fifth in the 20K walk, which is the only distance currently contested at the Olympics.
While Dunfee celebrated his triumphant moment, teammate Olivia Lundman faced a disappointing end to her race. The 22-year-old from Nanaimo, B.C., was disqualified at the eight-kilometre mark of the women’s 35-kilometre race walk, which saw Maria Perez of Spain emerge victorious with a time of 2:29:45.
The World Athletics Championships continue to be a platform for Canadian athletes, with several events scheduled for Saturday, including heats in the men’s 3,000-metre steeplechase, men’s and women’s 100 metres, and women’s 1,500 metres. Three finals are also set to take place, featuring the men’s shot put at 8:10 a.m. ET, the women’s 10,000 metres at 8:30 a.m. ET, and a mixed 4×400-metre relay involving a Canadian team at 9:20 a.m. ET.
This year’s championships mark a historic participation for Canada, with a record contingent of 59 athletes—30 men and 29 women—representing the nation. Notable competitors include hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg, decathlete Pierce LePage, and 800-metre runner Marco Arop, all of whom are looking to defend or improve upon their statuses as champions.
