(Budapest) Pierce LePage of Whitby, Ont., won gold in the decathlon at the world athletics championships on Saturday.
The money went to fellow countryman Damian Warner of London.
The 27-year-old LePage had a career-high 8,909 points. This is the sixth best total in the history of this event.
He had the silver medal at the Worlds last year, where a back thigh injury forced Warner to retire in the fifth event (the 400m), when he was leading.
LePage had to show perseverance to get this result, he who has been injured often over the years. He notably competed in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 with a tear in the patella region.
“The most important thing for me – I said this last year – is to stay healthy,” LePage commented after his day at work. My knees are finally working well, I can jump a little. So I’m excited to be in even better shape next year. »
Warner scored 8,804 points, his best result of the season. He is the reigning Olympic champion in the decathlon.
“I’ve been competing with Warner for a long time,” LePage said. Sharing a podium with him is so special, especially for my first Worlds gold medal. He leads by example, you know – Olympic champion and world champion. »
Bronze went to Lindon Victor of Grenada.
Canada added four medals to its haul on Saturday. Marco Arop also triumphed, in his case in the 800 meters.
The Edmonton athlete prevailed in 1:44.24, ahead of Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:44.53) and England’s Ben Pattison (1:44.83).
“It’s amazing,” exclaimed Arop. I don’t realize it yet. It’ll probably hit me tomorrow when I wake up. But now I’m just trying to enjoy it. It’s amazing. »
Sarah Mitton of Brooklyn, Nova Scotia was second in the shot put.
“Great,” Mitton told La Presse Canadienne. It was a good challenge as the race progressed, so it’s even more enjoyable with the work I had to do. »
American Chase Ealey took her place at the top of the podium, retaining her title.
China’s Lijiao Gong finished third.
Mitton’s best throw was 20.08 yards en route to his first career Worlds medal.
In the women’s marathon, Amane Beriso Shankule led an Ethiopia double.
Shankule clocked 2 hours, 24 minutes and 23 seconds on the streets of Budapest, beating defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase, a teammate, by 11 seconds.
Fatima Ezzahra Gardadi, of Morocco, won the bronze in 2:2
Shankule, 31, said the Ethiopian team worked together to make it difficult for the rest of the runners.
“Once we got rid of the others, it was a battle with my tough teammates,” Shankule said. Gebreslase is strong and she wanted to defend her title. »
Of the 77 athletes at the start, 65 reached the finish, in a race where the temperature soared to 29 degrees Celsius.
Shankule began to pull away from his compatriots late in the game.
“The main goal was to bring back the gold. I am proud that we (Ethiopians) retain the title,” Gebreslase said.
Gebreslase set a World Championship record 2:18:11 in cooler conditions last summer in Eugene, Oregon.
Canadians Natasha Wodak and Sasha Gollish finished 15th and 61st.
They are from Surrey, British Columbia and Toronto, respectively.
Later in the day, Noah Lyles, winner of the 200 meters, won with his team from the United States the 4 x 100 m relay.
Lyles, who also won the 100 meters earlier this week, held up three fingers as he crossed the finish line for three races won.
He is the first man to achieve this feat at the Worlds since Usain Bolt in 2015.
Bolt won all three races in 2008, 2012 and 2016, at the Olympics. Lyles will want to do the same, in 2024.
Faith Kipyegon of Kenya will be looking to add a 5,000 meters title to her 1,500 meters crown won earlier at worlds.
In addition, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis is expected to defend his title.
