1. Overview

Evan Dunfee is a prominent Canadian racewalker and Olympian, born on September 28, 1990, in Richmond, British Columbia. He is widely recognized for his achievements as an Olympic and World Championships medalist, particularly in the 50 kilometres walk, an event in which he previously held the Canadian record. Dunfee's career highlights include winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and another bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, both in the 50 kilometres walk. Beyond his athletic prowess, Dunfee is a vocal advocate for clean sport and has engaged in significant investigative work regarding doping violations. He has also championed the preservation of traditional racewalking events, such as the 50 km discipline, which has since been retired from major competitions.
2. Early life and education
Evan Dunfee's formative years and academic pursuits laid the groundwork for his athletic and advocacy career.
2.1. Childhood and schooling
Dunfee was raised and continues to reside in Richmond, British Columbia, where he often trains, covering distances of up to 31 mile (50 km) daily. His early education took place at Kingswood Elementary, followed by attendance at Matthew McNair Secondary School within Richmond.
2.2. University and early career
In 2014, Dunfee graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology. During his early career, he contributed digitally to Canadian Running Magazine, providing insights from a racewalker's perspective. Furthermore, Dunfee engaged in investigative work concerning illegal doping-related activities by Russian competitors, a subject which drew attention and was quoted by news organizations such as the Associated Press and Inside the Games.
3. Athletic career
Evan Dunfee has established himself as a distinguished professional racewalker, competing and achieving significant results in various international competitions throughout his career.
3.1. Early international competitions
Dunfee's international career began with appearances at junior championships. He participated in the 2007 World Youth Championships in Athletics in Ostrava, finishing 23rd in the 10,000 m walk. The following year, he competed at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics in Bydgoszcz, securing 10th place in the same event. As a junior, he also placed 4th in the 10 km walk at the 2009 Pan American Race Walking Cup and 6th in the 10,000 m walk at the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships.
In his early senior career, he competed in the 50 km walk at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, completing the race in 3:59:28. He earned a team bronze medal at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan in the 20 km walk, notably with two winning Russian racewalkers from that event, Denis Strelkov and Andrey Ruzavin, later being suspended for doping violations. Dunfee was also the champion and record holder for the 20 km walk at the 2012 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics and won a silver medal at the Athletics at the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie in Nice. He had several near misses early in his career, finishing fourth at the 2009, 2013, and 2015 Pan American Race Walking Cups, fourth at the 2012 Oceania Race Walking Championships, and sixth at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, often closely behind his teammate and training partner, Inaki Gomez.
3.2. Olympic Games
Dunfee has been a significant presence at the Olympic Games, securing a historic medal. He was named to Canada's Olympic team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in both the 20 km and 50 km racewalk events. In the 20 km race walk, he placed tenth. In the 50 km race walk, he initially finished fourth, setting a new Canadian record of 3:41:38. During the race, Japan's Hirooki Arai, who initially finished third, was disqualified for making contact with Dunfee. However, Arai's medal was reinstated after a successful Japanese appeal. Dunfee notably advised the Canadian team against making a further appeal, demonstrating his sportsmanship.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dunfee competed in the 50 kilometres race walk, an event that was being featured for the last time at the Olympics. In a dramatic finish, he surged into third place in the closing meters of the race, earning the bronze medal. This achievement made him the third-ever Canadian racewalking Olympic medalist and the only one in the 50 km event. Expressing his joy, Dunfee stated, "I don't need a medal to validate myself. I'm proud of what I accomplished today, but I have been dreaming of this moment and winning this medal for 21 years. I am over the moon."
3.3. World Athletics Championships
Dunfee has made multiple appearances at the World Athletics Championships, securing a significant medal in the process. His participation began with the 50 km walk at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, where he finished 36th. At the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, he placed 12th in both the 20 km and 50 km events. In 2017, at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London, he finished 15th in the 50 km walk.
His breakthrough came at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, where he won the bronze medal in the 50 km walk. This was only the second medal for a Canadian in racewalking at the World Championships, and the first ever in the 50 km event. This championship marked the last time the 50 km was contested at the World Championships, a decision Dunfee openly disagreed with. He shifted his focus to preparing for the next Olympics. Following the transition to the 35 km event, he finished sixth at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, a result he expressed immense satisfaction with given his personal struggles leading up to the event. In the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Dunfee finished fourth in the 20 km walk, setting a new Canadian record, and also placed fourth in the 35 km walk despite tearing his hamstring during the latter race.
3.4. Commonwealth Games
Dunfee has consistently performed at the Commonwealth Games, culminating in a gold medal. He first competed at the Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, placing sixth in the 20 km walk. At the Athletics at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, he finished eighth in the 20 km walk.
The period leading up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was challenging for Dunfee, as he struggled with a hamstring injury and depression due to World Athletics' decision to remove the 50 km event in favor of the new 35 km race. Despite these difficulties, he was named to the Canadian team for the Birmingham Games, where he competed in the newly-added 10,000 m walk. He delivered a record-setting performance, winning the gold medal with a new national and Commonwealth Games record time of 38:36.37.
3.5. Pan American Games
Evan Dunfee has participated in the Pan American Games across various editions. At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, he won a gold medal with the Canadian team in the 20 km walk. He also finished fourth individually in the 20 km walk at the 2015 Pan American Race Walking Cup. Despite a hamstring injury, Dunfee competed at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he finished ninth in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:22:14. He acknowledged the injury as a significant setback but stated that he gave his best effort.
3.6. Other major competitions
Dunfee has competed in several other significant international events. He placed 16th in the 20 km walk at the 2016 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Rome, where he also secured a silver medal with the Canadian team in the same event. In 2018, he finished 12th in the 50 km walk at the 2018 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships in Taicang. In the transition to the 35 km discipline, he placed seventh at the 2022 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat.
He also achieved success at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships, winning gold in the 20 km walk at the 2018 NACAC Championships in Toronto and a silver medal in the 20,000 m walk at the 2022 NACAC Championships in Freeport, Bahamas. Additionally, he earned a silver medal in the 20 km walk at the Athletics at the 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie in Nice.
3.7. Personal bests and records
Dunfee's personal best performances in racewalking events include:
| Event | Result | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road walk | |||
| 10 km | 40:19 min | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | June 22, 2013 |
| 20 km | 1:18:03 hrs | Budapest, Hungary | August 19, 2023 |
| 35 km | 2:25:02 hrs | Eugene, Oregon, United States | July 24, 2022 |
| 50 km | 3:41:38 hrs | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | August 19, 2016 |
| Track walk | |||
| 5000 m | 18:39.08 min | Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada | June 18, 2021 |
| 10,000 m | 38:36.37 min | Birmingham, United Kingdom | August 7, 2022 |
| 20,000 m | 1:25:15.0 hrs (ht) | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | June 25, 2011 |
3.8. Competition record
Dunfee's comprehensive competition record is detailed below:
| Representing Canada | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | World Youth Championships | Ostrava, Czech Republic | 23rd | 10,000 m | 47:40.86 |
| 2008 | World Junior Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 10th | 10,000 m | 42:56.82 |
| 2009 | Pan American Race Walking Cup (U20) | San Salvador, El Salvador | 4th | 10 km | 44:16 |
| Pan American Junior Championships | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | 6th | 10,000 m | 43:27.04 | |
| 2010 | World Race Walking Cup | Chihuahua, Mexico | - | 20 km | DNF |
| Commonwealth Games | Delhi, India | 6th | 20 km | 1:28:13 | |
| 2011 | Universiade | Shenzhen, China | 14th | 20 km | 1:29:13 |
| 2012 | Oceania Race Walking Championships | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia | 4th† | 20 km | 1:25:17 |
| World Race Walking Cup | Saransk, Russia | - | 20 km | DNF | |
| 15th | Team (20 km) | 180 pts | |||
| NACAC U23 Championships | Irapuato, Mexico | 1st | 20,000 m | 1:26:15.32 | |
| 2013 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala | 4th | 20 km | 1:25:43 |
| Universiade | Kazan, Russia | 21st | 20 km | 1:31:07 | |
| 3rd | Team (20 km) | 4:20:35 | |||
| World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 36th | 50 km | 3:59:28 | |
| Jeux de la Francophonie | Nice, France | 2nd | 20 km | 1:25:30 | |
| 2014 | World Race Walking Cup | Taicang, China | 11th | 20 km | 1:20:13 |
| 4th | Team (20 km) | 36 pts | |||
| 2015 | Pan American Race Walking Cup | Arica, Chile | 4th | 20 km | 1:21:54 |
| 1st | Team (20 km) | 21 pts | |||
| World Championships | Beijing, China | 12th | 20 km | 1:21:48 | |
| 12th | 50 km | 3:49:56 | |||
| 2016 | World Race Walking Team Championships | Rome, Italy | 16th | 20 km | 1:21:26 |
| 2nd | Team (20 km) | 28 pts | |||
| Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 10th | 20 km | 1:20:49 | |
| 4th | 50 km | 3:41:38 | |||
| 2017 | World Championships | London, England | 15th | 50 km | 3:47:36 |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 8th | 20 km | 1:23:26 |
| World Race Walking Team Championships | Taicang, China | 12th | 50 km | 3:50:18 | |
| NACAC Championships | Toronto, Canada | 1st | 20 km | 1:25:39 | |
| 2019 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 3rd | 50 km | 4:05:02 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | 3rd | 50 km | 3:50:59 |
| 2022 | World Race Walking Team Championships | Muscat, Oman | 7th | 35 km | 2:38:08 |
| World Championships | Eugene, United States | 6th | 35 km | 2:25:02 | |
| Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 1st | 10,000 m | 38:36.37 | |
| NACAC Championships | Freeport, Bahamas | 2nd | 20,000 m | 1:27:18 | |
| 2023 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 4th | 20 km | 1:18:03 |
| 4th | 35 km | 2:25:28 | |||
| Pan American Games | Santiago, Chile | 9th | 20 km | 1:22:14 | |
†: Guest appearance out of competition.
4. Advocacy and personal philosophy
Evan Dunfee is a vocal advocate for ethical conduct in sports and actively works to promote youth participation and preserve the integrity of athletic events.
4.1. KidSport ambassador
Dunfee serves as an ambassador for KidSport, an organization dedicated to helping children overcome financial barriers to participate in organized sports. In 2018, to support KidSport's 25th anniversary, he undertook a unique fundraising initiative: he walked 16 mile (25 km) a day for 25 consecutive days. He credited this engagement with KidSport and its charitable efforts as a "different avenue" to channel his competitive spirit, which helped reinvigorate him for the 2019 season.
4.2. Advocacy for clean sport and event preservation
Dunfee is a staunch proponent of clean sport and has engaged in investigative work regarding doping violations. His efforts to expose illegal doping activities by Russian competitors have been cited by major news outlets. He has also openly expressed his disagreement with World Athletics' decision to retire the 50 km racewalk event, stating that the decision was a "mental struggle" for him and that the 50 km was "so much of my identity." This stance reflects his deep commitment to the traditional disciplines of racewalking and his belief in maintaining the sport's historical events.
5. Political aspirations
In 2021, Evan Dunfee sought election to the Richmond City Council in the 2022 British Columbia municipal elections. He expressed his intention to balance his athletic career with potential council duties. In the municipal elections, Dunfee finished tenth in balloting, two positions shy of securing a seat on the council.
6. Reception and awards
Dunfee's conduct and contributions both on and off the track have been recognized. In December 2021, the Canadian association of national team athletes honored him with their True Sport Award. This award is presented to an athlete who "exemplifies the highest values of sport, including sportsmanship, perseverance and inclusion."
7. Controversies
Evan Dunfee has been involved in significant challenges concerning fairness and integrity in sport, particularly through his investigative work into doping and a notable incident at the Olympic Games.
He has actively contributed to investigating and exposing illegal doping-related activities within racewalking, specifically involving Russian competitors. This work underscores his commitment to clean sport, even as it involves delving into sensitive and controversial aspects of the athletic world.
A notable incident occurred at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro during the 50 km racewalk. After Dunfee initially finished fourth, Japan's Hirooki Arai, who had crossed the finish line in third, was disqualified for making contact with Dunfee. However, Arai's bronze medal was later reinstated following a successful appeal by the Japanese team. In a demonstration of his personal philosophy regarding fairness, Dunfee advised the Canadian team against making a further counter-appeal, prioritizing the spirit of sportsmanship over a potential medal.