It’s full speed ahead towards the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo for Evan Dunfee.
The 26-year-old Richmond race walker got the news he wanted to hear Friday when the International Association of Athletics Federations voted to keep the 50 km race as part of its program at least until the 2020 Games.
Dunfee was fourth over that distance in Rio last summer thanks to a courageous national record performance. Last month, he tasted his first-ever IAAF Race Walking Challenge race victory in Mexico.
He was among the leading voices in the international race walking community that pleaded with the IAAF to continue with the distance. The event’s lack of popularity and gender equality issues were among the concerns brought forward by the International Olympic Committee to the IAAF. There is no women’s 50km race.
“Yes, I’m definitely thrilled. This is the decision we were hoping for. We absolutely understand that our event is fringe and at risk of getting tossed from the Olympics,” said Dunfee on Monday. “We need to evolve and do a better job at coming up with ways to bring in new fans. This decision allows the athletes an opportunity to be part of this conversation, whereas everything up until this point had been done behind our backs.”
Look for Dunfee to be front and centre in continuing to be vocal about his sport and the distance over at least the next three years. He received world-wide praise and recognition for his effort and sportsmanship in Rio and certainly put the spotlight on his discipline in Canada like it never has before.
“I believe that the race walk offers a lot in terms of what the Olympics are all about. The 50km, being the longest footrace in the Games, takes a great deal of mental and physical fortitude to get through and this is what is at the heart of the Olympic Charter,” he added.
“The Olympics used to be about more than simply how well the IOC could line their pockets. Olympians have a power to inspire their community and I think I have done that successfully here in Richmond. I don’t think the value of that can necessarily be measured in dollars. So while we have won this battle, we still have a bit of a war ahead of us I believe with the IOC to prove that we belong on the program.”
Dunfee can now focus solely on his competitive schedule that features next month’s Pan American Cup in Lima, Peru and the World Championships. His training will include competing in this week’s 33rd annual 10km Vancouver Sun Run and the Vancouver Marathon on May 7.
“I am excited to get out and do some local races. I am hoping to pull a lot of people aiming for around (a time) 3:15 for the marathon to (personal bests) out of pure refusal to lose to a race walker,” he laughed.
Dunfee will also be helping his new official sponsor — New Balance — open its new store in Richmond May 6.
