As the athletics program at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games gets started, Evan Dunfee solidified his spot among the world’s best, finishing 5th in the men’s 20 km race walk in a time of 1:19:16.
“I gave it all I had out there. I’m really proud of the effort. I missed that tiny little bit of it when the pace changed. Four guys were better than me today. I can’t really fault anything I did. It was a really tough course out there. I closed really hard and gave myself every possible chance that I had,” Dunfee said. “I’ll walk away with my head high, proud of myself and just really privileged to have this moment again and see how I stack up against the best in the world.”
Dunfee won bronze in the men’s 50 km race walk three years ago in Tokyo but, as the event was removed from the Olympic programme, he has had to re-set for the shorter distance.
“I’ve very publicly had my qualms with this event and my evolving motivation and confidence with it, so I’m happy to be able to get out there and prove once again that I belong, and I can compete at this level with these guys, and keep the motivation going – I’m hungry for the next one now,” he said..
Dunfee won’t have to look for to get more miles in, though, as he competes with teammate and protégé Olivia Lundman in the first Olympic marathon race walk mixed relay next Wednesday.
“We’ve only done one, so it’s hard to gauge too much what it’s like. For me, turning my attention to the mixed relay, I turn into coach mode. I’m Olivia’s coach. My first Games in Rio were a huge learning experience – just getting those butterflies out, go through the system, see what it’s like,” he said. “Our real hope is just to give her that experience, let her get a taste of this insane crowd atmosphere and get her hungry for LA and getting a spot in that 20k on her own.”
Racing more than an hour through the fan-lined streets of Paris on Thursday, the racer took inspiration from the boisterous crowds. The crowds, in turn, will draw inspiration from the athletes.
“It was amazing. I have a tonne of friends and family out there. It was a really cool atmosphere and an amazing course – loud as hell and you love to see it,” Dunfee said. “This event is free for people to come out, watch, get right up close with the athletes, feel what they’re going through, literally get their sweat on you. All 50 of these athletes are so damn inspiring and tens of thousands of people are going to leave here, knowing what it means to be an Olympian.”
Tomorrow at Paris 2024
Damian Warner begins the defence of his Olympic championship with the first day of decathlon events tomorrow morning. On tap for the champ are the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400 metres events.
World hammer throw champion Ethan Katzberg makes his Olympic debut in the qualifying round with teammates Adam Keenan and Rowan Hamilton.
Qualifying also begins in the women’s 100 metres, 800 metres and 5000 metres, as well as the men’s 1500 metres.
The night ends with Olympic medallist Mohammed Ahmed racing in the men’s 10,000 metre final.
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