Evan Dunfee captures first gold of world championships as Japan earns first medal

Evan Dunfee says he likes that the race walk is often the first event at the world championships, because it gives him a chance to get Canada off to a fast start.

The Canadians should have plenty of motivation now.

Dunfee surged past struggling Masatora Kawano late in the men’s 35-kilometer race walk and held on to the top spot to claim the first gold medal of the 2025 World Athletics Championships on a humid Saturday morning at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

Japanese fans, however, still had something to cheer for as Hayato Katsuki took bronze behind Brazilian Caio Bonfim to give the host nation its first medal in the opening event.

Hayato Katsuki leads a group of walkers during the men’s 35K race walk at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday.
| REUTERS