On a historic night time in Canadian monitor and area, Pierce LePage and Damian Warner claimed gold and silver within the males’s decathlon on the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
LePage of Whitby, Ont., completed with a world-leading 8,909 factors to win his first world title, upgrading his silver from final yr’s world championships in Eugene. LePage is the primary Canadian to win a world title within the occasion.
The 27-year-old recorded a private greatest within the males’s 110m hurdles and set season’s bests in 4 different occasions: pole vault, 1,500m, excessive bounce and 400m to earn a brand new private greatest rating of 8,909, beating his earlier better of 8,701 factors from worlds final yr.
Warner gained the silver with a season’s greatest 8,804 factors to put forward of Grenada’s Lindon Victor, who took bronze with a nationwide document of 8,756 factors.
“Being world champion has not set in but,” LePage mentioned to Canadian Working.”I’m actually pleased with how the decathlon went, however I wasn’t overly pleased with how my occasions went on Day 1. My coach all the time says the decathlon begins on Day 2.”
LePage felt that he solidified his lead on Warner and Victor with the pole vault, heading into the ultimate two occasions. “My pole vault went very well, and normally it’s fairly messy,” mentioned LePage. “It felt actually fairly clear.”
That is the primary time a Canadian man has gained the decathlon at a world championship and likewise the primary time Canada has gone one-two within the occasion. Warner and LePage don’t have anything however respect for each other: “Sharing the rostrum along with him this yr is simply so particular,” says LePage. “He leads by instance, you understand, he’s the Olympic champion and now I’m the world champion.”
Warner, 33, has gained Olympic gold and world indoors gold, however hasn’t added gold at outside worlds to his resume. He has now gained silver and bronze twice every at a world championships.
“If there’s anyone on this competitors that I might be comfortable to beat me, it’s Pierce,” says Warner. “He’s an ideal man, and I understand how laborious he’s labored all this yr. Typically you simply should take your hat off, shake their hand and congratulate them, as a result of when somebody goes on the market and scores 8,900 factors, it’s all you are able to do.”
“If there’s anybody on this competitors that I might be comfortable to beat me, it’s Pierce. He’s an ideal man and I understand how laborious he’s labored for this.”
– Damian Warner on Pierce LePage successful 🥇 🥲
📸: @James_Athletics pic.twitter.com/AcXPkSrh2n
— Canadian Working (@CanadianRunning) August 26, 2023
Heading into the final day of competitors on the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Canada has gained a document six medals: 4 gold and two silver, with an opportunity for extra on Day 9. Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers every gained gold within the males’s and girls’s hammer throw, Marco Arop gained the boys’s 800m ultimate and LePage the decathlon; Warner and Sarah Mitton gained silver (Mitton within the shot put).
The 2023 World Athletics Championships are happening from August 19-27 on the Nationwide Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. All of the motion shall be delivered to you by Canadian Working and Asics Canada. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Crew Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
