1. Overview
Matej Tóth (Matej Tóthˈmacej ˈtɔːtSlovak; born February 10, 1983) is a highly acclaimed Slovak race walker and a former Olympic champion in the 50 km walk. Born in Nitra, Czechoslovakia, Tóth stands 6.1 ft (1.85 m) tall and weighs 161 lb (73 kg). His career is marked by significant achievements, including a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2015 World Championships. He also secured gold medals at the 2010 World Race Walking Cup and the 2011 European Race Walking Cup, alongside two silver medals at the European Championships in 2014 and 2018. Beyond his athletic prowess, Tóth is also a journalist by profession. His achievements have left a lasting impact on Slovak sports, as he became the first Slovak athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships and the first Slovak to claim a Summer Olympic gold in athletics, excluding canoe slalom.
2. Early Life and Background
Matej Tóth's journey from his birthplace in Nitra, Czechoslovakia, to becoming an Olympic champion began in his formative years, shaped by his early introduction to sports and his pursuit of higher education.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Matej Tóth was born on February 10, 1983, in Nitra, which was then part of Czechoslovakia.
2.2. Education and Profession
Tóth pursued an academic path alongside his athletic endeavors, graduating as a journalist. This profession has been noted as his primary career outside of sports.
2.3. Early Career
Tóth began his involvement in race walking at the age of 13. This early start laid the foundation for his extensive and successful career in the sport.
3. Career
Matej Tóth's career in race walking spans over two decades, marked by consistent participation and notable performances across junior and senior international competitions, culminating in Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
3.1. Early Career and Junior Achievements
Tóth's international career began in the junior categories, where he represented Slovakia in various championships. In 1999, he competed at the World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, finishing 8th in the 10,000 meter race with a time of 46:49.33. Two years later, in 2001, he participated in the U20 category of the European Race Walking Cup held in Dudince, Slovakia, where he placed 39th in the 10 km event with a time of 47:18. His junior career continued in 2002 at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, securing 16th place in the 10,000 meter race with a time of 45:05.02.
3.2. Senior International Debut and Early Competitions
Tóth transitioned to senior international competitions in 2003. He competed at the European Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, finishing 24th in the 20 km event with a time of 1:25:28. The same year, he took 6th place in the 20 km race at the European U23 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, clocking 1:25:59, and 10th place in the 20 km event at the Universiade in Daegu, South Korea, with a time of 1:27:51.
His first Olympic Games appearance was at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he finished 32nd in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:28:49. Earlier that year, he was 54th in the 20 km race at the World Race Walking Cup in Naumburg, Germany, with a time of 1:26:59. In 2005, he was 12th at the European Race Walking Cup in Miskolc, Hungary (20 km, 1:23:58), 8th at the Universiade in İzmir, Turkey (20 km, 1:28:58), and 21st at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland (20 km, 1:23:55).
In 2006, Tóth finished 46th in the 20 km race at the World Race Walking Cup in A Coruña, Spain (1:26:30), and achieved a significant 6th place at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the 20 km event with a time of 1:21:39. The following year, he was 27th at the European Race Walking Cup in Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom (20 km, 1:25:12), and 14th at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan (20 km, 1:25:57).
Tóth competed in his second Olympic Games at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, finishing 26th in the 20 km walk with a time of 1:23:17. He also placed 17th at the World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, in the 20 km event (1:21:24). In 2009, he was 9th at the European Race Walking Cup in Metz, France (20 km, 1:27:29). At the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, he competed in both the 20 km and 50 km events, finishing 9th (1:21:13) and 10th (3:48:35), respectively.
In 2010, Tóth secured his first major gold medal at the World Race Walking Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, winning the 50 km walk with a time of 3:53:30. He also finished 6th in the 20 km race at the European Championships in Barcelona, Spain, with a time of 1:22:20. The year 2011 saw him win another gold medal at the European Race Walking Cup in Olhão, Portugal, in the 20 km event (1:23:53). At the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, he placed 13th in the 20 km walk (1:22:55) but did not finish the 50 km race. In March 2011, Tóth set a new Slovak record in the 50 km walk at the Dudinska Patdesiatka event, finishing in 3:39:46. His strong form continued into 2012, with victories at the Rio Maior International Race Walking Grand Prix and the Poděbrady Race Walking event.
3.3. Peak Performance Years
Matej Tóth's career reached its zenith in the mid-2010s, marked by his most significant medal wins at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.
3.3.1. Olympic Games
Tóth participated in four consecutive Olympic Games from 2004 to 2016. At the 2012 London Olympics, he achieved a notable 5th place in the 50 km walk with a time of 3:41:24. His crowning achievement came at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where he won the gold medal in the 50 km walk, clocking 3:40:58. This victory was particularly significant as it marked Slovakia's first Olympic medal in athletics and the nation's first Summer Olympic gold medal in any sport other than canoe slalom. He continued to represent Slovakia at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in Sapporo, Japan, finishing 14th in the 50 km walk with a season-best time of 3:56:23.
3.3.2. World Championships
Tóth has competed in multiple World Championships. At the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, he finished 5th in the 50 km walk with a time of 3:41:07. His most significant World Championship performance occurred at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, where he clinched the gold medal in the 50 km walk with a time of 3:40:32. This historic win marked Slovakia's first-ever gold medal at the World Championships. He also competed at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, but did not finish the men's 50 km walk race.
3.3.3. European Championships
Tóth has also achieved considerable success at the European Athletics Championships. In 2014, he earned a silver medal in the 50 km walk at the European Championships in Zürich, Switzerland, with a time of 3:36:21. Four years later, he secured another silver medal in the men's 50 km walk at the 2018 European Athletics Championships held in Berlin, Germany, with a time of 3:47:27.
3.4. Other Major Competitions
Beyond the major championships, Matej Tóth has consistently performed well in other significant race walking events. In 2013, he won a bronze medal at the European Race Walking Cup in Dudince, Slovakia, in the 20 km event, with a time of 1:21:51. He also competed at the World Race Walking Cup in Taicang, China, finishing 28th in the 20 km race with a time of 1:21:33. In 2015, at the European Race Walking Cup in Murcia, Spain, he secured a silver medal in the 20 km walk (1:20:21) and contributed to a 6th place finish for the Slovak team in the 20 km team event, accumulating 68 points.
| Representing Slovakia | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| 1999 | World Youth Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 8th | 10,000 m | 46:49.33 |
| 2001 | European Race Walking Cup (U20) | Dudince, Slovakia | 39th | 10 km | 47:18 |
| 2002 | World Junior Championships | Kingston, Jamaica | 16th | 10,000 m | 45:05.02 |
| 2003 | European Race Walking Cup | Cheboksary, Russia | 24th | 20 km | 1:25:28 |
| 2003 | European U23 Championships | Bydgoszcz, Poland | 6th | 20 km | 1:25:59 |
| 2003 | Universiade | Daegu, South Korea | 10th | 20 km | 1:27:51 |
| 2004 | World Race Walking Cup | Naumburg, Germany | 54th | 20 km | 1:26:59 |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens, Greece | 32nd | 20 km | 1:28:49 |
| 2005 | European Race Walking Cup | Miskolc, Hungary | 12th | 20 km | 1:23:58 |
| 2005 | Universiade | İzmir, Turkey | 8th | 20 km | 1:28:58 |
| 2005 | World Championships | Helsinki, Finland | 21st | 20 km | 1:23:55 |
| 2006 | World Race Walking Cup | A Coruña, Spain | 46th | 20 km | 1:26:30 |
| 2006 | European Championships | Gothenburg, Sweden | 6th | 20 km | 1:21:39 |
| 2007 | European Race Walking Cup | Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom | 27th | 20 km | 1:25:12 |
| 2007 | World Championships | Osaka, Japan | 14th | 20 km | 1:25:57 |
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 26th | 20 km | 1:23:17 |
| 2008 | World Race Walking Cup | Cheboksary, Russia | 17th | 20 km | 1:21:24 |
| 2009 | European Race Walking Cup | Metz, France | 9th | 20 km | 1:27:29 |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 9th | 20 km | 1:21:13 |
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 10th | 50 km | 3:48:35 |
| 2010 | World Race Walking Cup | Chihuahua, Mexico | 1st | 50 km | 3:53:30 |
| 2010 | European Championships | Barcelona, Spain | 6th | 20 km | 1:22:20 |
| 2011 | European Race Walking Cup | Olhão, Portugal | 1st | 20 km | 1:23:53 |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 13th | 20 km | 1:22:55 |
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | - | 50 km | DNF |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 5th | 50 km | 3:41:24 |
| 2013 | European Race Walking Cup | Dudince, Slovakia | 3rd | 20 km | 1:21:51 |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 5th | 50 km | 3:41:07 |
| 2014 | World Race Walking Cup | Taicang, China | 28th | 20 km | 1:21:33 |
| 2014 | European Championships | Zürich, Switzerland | 2nd | 50 km | 3:36:21 |
| 2015 | European Race Walking Cup | Murcia, Spain | 2nd | 20 km | 1:20:21 |
| 2015 | European Race Walking Cup | Murcia, Spain | 6th | 20 km - Team | 68 pts |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 1st | 50 km | 3:40:32 |
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 1st | 50 km | 3:40:58 |
| 2018 | European Championships | Berlin, Germany | 2nd | 50 km | 3:47:27 |
| 2021 | Olympic Games | Sapporo, Japan | 14th | 50 km | 3:56:23 |
4. Awards and Recognition
Matej Tóth's exceptional achievements in race walking have earned him significant recognition. He was honored as the Slovak Athlete of the Year in 2016, a testament to his outstanding performance and contributions to Slovak sports.
5. Legacy and Impact
Matej Tóth's career has left an indelible mark on the landscape of Slovak sports. His gold medal in the 50 km walk at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics was a historic moment, marking Slovakia's first-ever gold at the World Championships in athletics. Furthermore, his triumph at the Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was equally groundbreaking, as it represented Slovakia's first Olympic medal in athletics and the nation's first gold medal in a Summer Olympic sport other than canoe slalom. These achievements have significantly boosted national pride and inspired a new generation of athletes in Slovakia.