From Nanaimo, British Columbia, to breaking records in the NCAA, Nate Paris is making a name for himself as one of Canada's most promising decathletes. After an impressive freshman year at the University of British Columbia, Paris transferred to Virginia Tech, where he has continued his meteoric rise in the multi-events.
From UBC to Virginia Tech: A Decathlon Champion Emerges
Paris made waves in the sport early on, winning gold at the 2022 B.C. Championship Jamboree in the U20 decathlon with 7,145 points. The following year, he announced himself on the international stage by securing bronze at the 2023 Pan American U20 Championships in the same event.
At UBC in 2023, he dominated the NAIA, becoming the NAIA Outdoor Champion in the decathlon with 7,232 points-winning the 100m, long jump, 400m, and 110m hurdles in the process.
Soon after, Paris transferred to Virginia Tech for the 2023-24 season, stepping into the NCAA Division I and the highly competitive ACC Conference.
Breaking Records in the NCAA
Paris quickly adapted to the NCAA environment, placing sixth in the heptathlon at the 2024 ACC Indoor Championships with 5,532 points. He continued improving throughout the season, scoring 5,608 points at the Doc Hale VT Meet, setting personal bests in multiple events, including the high jump (2.00m), shot put (12.33m), 60m hurdles (8.32), and 1000m (2:47.30).
But 2025 has been his true breakout year. At the Doc Hale Elite Meet (Feb 7-8, 2025), Paris shattered the Canadian U23 national record and his Virginia Tech program record in the heptathlon, accumulating 5,858 points. This performance moved him to 8th in the NCAA, 27th in the world for 2025, and cemented his status as one of the top multi-event athletes in North America.