Evan Dunfee, world champion–that has a nice ring to it. On Saturday morning in Tokyo, the Canadian race-walk record holder took home the first gold medal of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, winning the 35K race walk in 2:28:22.
“It’s a dream come true–25 years in the making,” Dunfee told Canadian Running post-race.
The event marks Dunfee’s seventh world championship–but it’s his first world title. And with 25 C temperatures and 94 per cent humidity, the conditions weren’t on his side. “That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” the 34-year-old admitted. “The last two kilometres were agonizing–I’ve never been in that much pain my entire life. I was having to channel all of the people back home, or on my support team here, who believe in me so much.”
Brazil’s Caio Bonfim took silver in 2:28:55 while Japan’s Hayato Katsuki claimed bronze in 2:29:16.
More updates to come.
Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.
