Historic stage set for Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasília 26

The Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26 will break new ground this weekend as the global race walking community gathers in Brazil for a landmark edition of the championships on Sunday (12).

For the first time in the event’s history, the competition will be held in South America – and in the Southern Hemisphere – marking a significant moment for the discipline and for the sport more broadly.

With a record-breaking programme, new race formats and a global field of more than 330 athletes from about 40 federations, the stage is set for a historic edition of the championships in Brasília – one that promises to leave a lasting legacy for race walking in South America and beyond.

Speaking at the pre-event press conference, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the importance of the occasion within a packed global calendar.

“This is a big occasion,” said Coe. “What makes this edition especially significant is that it is the first time the event has been held in South America, and indeed the first time in the Southern Hemisphere – something I’m particularly pleased about.

“This is also the third stop on this year’s World Athletics Series calendar. Not long ago, we were in Tallahassee for the World Cross Country Championships, and just last month we were in Poland for a very successful edition of the World Indoor Championships. Now we are here in Brasília.

“And it’s worth reflecting on something I often say: there is no sport on the planet that combines such diversity, inclusion and global reach as athletics. This year alone, we will stage events across four continents. From here, we move to Africa for the World Relays in Gaborone, to the United States for the World U20 Championships, then back to Europe for the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, and finally to Budapest for the Ultimate Championship, which will be the crescendo of our year.

“I’m particularly pleased to see the athletes here, who will, of course, be the stars of the show,” added Coe. “I spent time with them earlier this morning in a very productive discussion about the future of race walking and some of the challenges the discipline faces. Those conversations are always invaluable.

“Innovation is important, and this edition reflects that. For the first time, we have introduced the half marathon and marathon distances for race walking, which I believe is a significant step forward for the discipline.

“I’d like to place on record my thanks to the Brazilian Federation, the local organising committee, and the municipal authorities for creating a route that showcases some of the most iconic landmarks of this capital city.”

For Brazil, hosting the championships represents both recognition and opportunity, as emphasised by Confederação Brasileira de Atletismo President Wlamir Motta Campos.

“This is a historic moment for our sport and for our country,” said Campos. “For the first time, this event is being held in the Southern Hemisphere. These championships place Brasília and Brazil firmly on the global sporting stage, reinforcing our commitment to promoting athletics and hosting major international events.

“Hosting this championship is both a great honour and a source of immense pride. We are deeply grateful for the trust that World Athletics has placed in us by awarding Brazil this important event.

“We are confident that this championship will be a great success and a historic milestone for race walking in Brazil and across South America. I am sure this event will remain in our memories for many years to come.”

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sport, National Secretary for High-Performance Sport, Iziane Castro Marques de Oliveira highlighted the broader impact of the championships and the role of government support in athlete development.

“This event is not only a source of pride for Brazil, it also reflects our commitment to investing in people, in careers and in dreams,” she said. “Programmes such as Bolsa Atleta are essential in ensuring that our athletes can train, compete and perform at the highest level.

“Beyond elite performance, this championship is about inspiration – about showing young athletes that there is a pathway for them to grow, progress and reach the world stage.”

World 35km champion Evan Dunfee was among the five athletes in attendance at the press conference. The Canadian is heading into his eighth World Race Walking Team Championships with a different approach to previous editions.

“On the way to winning the 35km in Tokyo, I suffered a severe hamstring injury – a full avulsion – so I’ve been in recovery mode. This is the first championships in a long time where I’m coming in with a very different mindset. I’m not here to contest for the podium, I just want to see what my body is capable of right now. I also have three athletes I coach on the team, so I’m here wearing two hats – athlete and coach.

“I’m now in my 20th season of competing internationally, and this is my eighth World Race Walking Team Championships. My journey is one of growth; sport has taught me everything – how to win, but more importantly how to lose. It’s taught me how to set extraordinarily big goals and how to chase them with passion.

“The suitcase I travelled here with is from my first national team in 2006,” added Dunfee. “It’s older than some of the teammates here that I coach, which is a fairly remarkable full circle symbol. I now get to impart a fraction of the wisdom I’ve learned from my great coach, Gerry Dragomir, on to the next generation.”

Home favourite Caio Bonfim, winner of the world 20km title last year, underlined the significance of competing on home soil.

“Winning medals has changed my life in terms of recognition, but I’m still the same person,” he said. “The biggest change is visibility – people recognising you – but internally, I haven’t changed.

“This is a big moment not just for me, but for Brazil – to showcase race walking to the world. From the moment we knew Brazil would host this event, it brought both excitement and responsibility. There has been a lot of work behind the scenes, but now it’s time to deliver.”

Fellow Brazilian Viviane Lyra – the South African 20km champion – echoed that sentiment.

“It’s very special for Brazil to host this competition,” she said. “The team is united, determined and ready. Competing in front of our home crowd – our family and friends – makes this moment even more meaningful.

“The marathon is a special distance, so to have the opportunity to complete one here at home is amazing.”

Like Lyra, Ecuador’s world 35km bronze medallist Paula Torres is also stepping up to the marathon distance, embracing both the challenge and the legacy of her nation in the discipline.

“It wasn’t entirely my decision to move to the marathon; my coach guided me towards it,” she said. “At first, I thought it might be too much, but I’ve grown to really enjoy it. Now I feel comfortable with the distance and I’m very excited to compete.

“I’m proud to come from a country with such a strong tradition in race walking, so tomorrow I’ll race with pride and I’ll be thinking about my country with every step.”

Sweden’s Perseus Karlström – winner of the 20km at these championships in 2024 and the 35km in 2022 – is uncertain about whether he’ll be able to make the start line on Sunday after coming down with illness since arriving in Brasilia. Nevertheless, the multiple world medallist is treating 2026 as a fresh start.

“Last year was very difficult, but this year is about starting fresh,” he said. “I know I still have more to give.

“I’ve already raced one marathon this year, and I think the distance suits the discipline well. It’s closer to the traditional long-distance nature of race walking than the 35km.”