Canadian team stalwart Evan Dunfee told local media on Thursday he was hoping to create a race walk to remember at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Mission accomplished.

The 34-year-old Dunfee, of Richmond, B.C. — competing in his seventh world championships — struck gold Friday in the men’s 35-kilometre race walk, reeling in the top five walkers over the final eight kilometres.

Dunfee finished the race in two hours, 28 minutes and 22 seconds, which was 33 seconds ahead of runner-up Caio Bonfim

WATCH | Dunfee captures gold at opening event of World Athletics Championships: 

Canada’s Evan Dunfee captures 35km race walk gold in opening event at athletics worlds

Evan Dunfee of Richmond, B.C., wins the men’s 35-kilometre race walk final with a time of 2:28.22 at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Dunfee earned bronze in the 50K walk at the world championships in 2019 and at the Olympics in Tokyo, Canada’s first-ever Olympic medal in the event. He later claimed gold in the 10K walk at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Dunfee placed fifth in the 20K walk, now the only distance contested at the Olympics, at the Paris Games last year.

Olivia Lundman of Nanaimo, B.C., failed to finish the women’s 35-kilometre race walk. The 22-year-old was disqualified at the eight-kilometre mark. Maria Perez of Spain won in 2:29:45

WATCH | Evan Dunfee reflects on the journey to make his ‘dream come true’:

Evan Dunfee reflects on the journey to make his ‘dream come true’

Evan Dunfee of Richmond, B.C., discusses winning the men’s 35-kilometre race walk world title.

Coverage from the track and field world championships continue on Saturday at 4:30 a.m. ET where several Canadians will be in action in various heats, including in the men’s 3,000-metre steeplechase, men’s and women’s 100m, women’s 1,500m.

There will also be three finals on Saturday, with the men’s shot put (8:10 a.m. ET), women’s 10,000m (8:30 a.m. ET), and the mixed 4×400-metre relay (9:20 a.m. ET).

WATCH | Aaron Brown & Perdita Felicien give their podium predictions for Tokyo 2025: 

Aaron Brown, Perdita Felicien give their podium predictions for Tokyo 2025

The Trackside hosts pick their podium favourites for some of the biggest matchups heading into the world athletics championships in Tokyo.

A record number of Canadians will be looking to repeat as champions at this year’s world championships, including hammer throwers Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg, decathlete Pierce LePage, and 800-metre runner Marco Arop.

Canada is sending a total of 59 athletes (30 men and 29 women), its largest-ever contingent to compete at the world championships.