After years of near misses, heartbreak finishes, and a career defined by grit and perseverance, the 34-year-old from Richmond, B.C. is now a world champion. Dunfee captured gold in the men's 35km race walk at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking 2:28:22. He held off Brazil's Caio Bonfim, who finished in 2:28:55, while Japan's Hayato Katsuki earned bronze in 2:29:16.
For more than a decade, Dunfee has been a fixture at the front of major race walk finals. He had twice claimed global bronze and regularly finished inside the top six, but one of the sport's biggest prizes remained out of reach. On Saturday morning, his persistence finally paid off.
In testing conditions, the race opened with Japan's Kawano and Katsuki pushing the pace early, feeding off the energy of home supporters. Ecuador's David Hurtado made a bold move midway but lost his chance after a penalty. Dunfee, competing in his seventh world championships, stayed measured, conserving his effort.
With fewer than eight kilometres remaining he surged into contention, overtaking the fading leaders. Although Bonfim threatened in the closing stages, the Canadian held strong. Carrying the national flag as he crossed the finish line, Dunfee secured not only his first global title but also Canada's first-ever world championship gold in race walking.
The 2025 championships were always going to deliver a new winner in this event. Italy's Massimo Stano, who won in 2022, withdrew through injury, while Spain's defending champion Alvaro Martin retired last season. Even with the absence of recent champions, Dunfee still had to outlast a competitive field.
For Katsuki, a podium finish at age 34 offered a final moment of redemption in front of a home crowd. Kawano, once in medal contention, dropped dramatically to 18th, while Hurtado settled for ninth.
Dunfee's performance was the defining story. A veteran known for his consistency, he has now added world champion to a résumé that already included an Olympic bronze medal and a world-best mark earlier this year.
After years of chasing the ultimate prize, Evan Dunfee has finally claimed it. His breakthrough is not only a personal triumph but also a landmark moment for Canadian track and field and the first podium finish for Canada of the championships.