Redemption on the global stage is no longer in the cards for Canadian decathlon record holder Damian Warner. The 2020 Olympic Champion and 2023 world silver medallist announced on Saturday morning, shortly before the world championship decathlon was set to begin, that he would be withdrawing from the competition due to injury.
“During my final warm-up ahead of the decathlon today in Tokyo, I wasn’t able to finish due to pain in my Achilles,” he wrote on Instagram. “Out of an abundance of caution, I went for an MRI, which thankfully showed no tear – but it did reveal swelling and fluid within the tendon. Because of this, and to avoid risking further damage, I’ve had to make the incredibly difficult decision to withdraw from competing at the World Championships.”
“I’m devastated, especially because I had been feeling so strong leading into this trip and was really looking forward to once again representing Canada on the world stage. I’ll be working hard to be back on the track soon.”
At the Paris Olympics last summer, Warner was in second place when he failed to clear his opening height in the pole vault, resulting in a score of zero for that event. Warner recorded a DNF in the competition, marking the first time he hasn’t placed in the top five in an Olympic decathlon–alongside his Tokyo 2020 gold, he finished fifth at London 2012 and won bronze in Rio 2016.
LePage looks to defend world title
At the time of publication, Canada’s reigning world champion Pierce LePage sits in 17th after the first three events–100m, long jump and shot put. LePage is also chasing redemption in Tokyo after having to scratch from last year’s Olympic Games due to a herniated disc.
For full results of the 2025 World Athletics Championships, click here.
Canadian Running’s coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships is brought to you by ASICS Canada.
