On a historic night time in Canadian monitor and discipline, 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 finest within the males’s 110m hurdles and set season’s bests in 4 different occasions: pole vault, 1,500m, excessive leap and 400m to earn a brand new private finest rating of 8,909, beating his earlier better of 8,701 factors from worlds final yr.
Warner gained the silver with a season’s finest 8,804 factors to put forward of Grenada’s Lindon Victor, who took bronze with a nationwide report of 8,756 factors.
“Being world champion has not set in but,” LePage mentioned to Canadian Operating.”I’m actually proud of how the decathlon went, however I wasn’t overly proud of how my occasions went on Day 1. My coach at all times 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 in addition 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, , 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’d be joyful to beat me, it’s Pierce,” says Warner. “He’s a terrific man, and I understand how arduous he’s labored all this yr. Typically you simply need to 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’d be joyful to beat me, it’s Pierce. He’s a terrific man and I understand how arduous he’s labored for this.”
– Damian Warner on Pierce LePage profitable 🥇 🥲
📸: @James_Athletics pic.twitter.com/AcXPkSrh2n
— Canadian Operating (@CanadianRunning) August 26, 2023
Heading into the final day of competitors on the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Canada has gained a report 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 ladies’s hammer throw, Marco Arop gained the lads’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 might be dropped at you by Canadian Operating and Asics Canada. Observe us on Twitter on Instagram for all issues Crew Canada and up-to-date unique information and content material.
