Team Canada’s 59 athletes, led by defending champions, chase records and medals at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Canada Eyes Historic Medal Haul at World Athletics in Tokyo
Record Team Takes the Stage
Canada has sent its largest-ever squad—59 athletes—to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The team aims to surpass the six-medal haul from Budapest in 2023, setting its sights on a historic performance.
Defending Champions Return
For the first time in championship history, Canada fields four defending world champions: hammer throwers Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, 800-metre runner Marco Arop, and decathlete Pierce LePage. Rogers successfully defended her title on Monday, fueling momentum for the rest of the team.
Spotlight on Tuesday’s Events
Competition intensifies on Tuesday with Canadians in multiple marquee events. Edmonton’s Marco Arop, ranked world No. 2, begins his 800-metre title defense in the morning heats. Despite an Achilles issue earlier this summer, the 26-year-old enters in strong form, fresh off a near-upset of Kenyan rival Emmanuel Wanyonyi at the Diamond League Final.
Hammer Throw Showdown
Nanaimo’s Ethan Katzberg headlines the men’s hammer throw final. The 23-year-old qualified first with a powerful 81.85-metre throw and enters as the top-ranked hammer thrower in the world. Katzberg already owns the Canadian record of 84.38 metres and is aiming to add another global gold after his breakthrough in Budapest.
Middle-Distance Milestone
In the women’s 1,500 metres, Toronto’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford races her first world final since 2019. After battling injuries for two years, the 30-year-old qualified with grit, recovering from a late stumble in her semifinal. DeBues-Stafford holds the Canadian record of 3:56.12 and will double in the 1,500 and 5,000, with heats for the latter beginning Thursday.
Why It Matters
With depth across sprints, distance, and field events, Athletics Canada is positioned for its strongest showing yet on the global stage. Success in Tokyo would not only boost the country’s medal count but also reinforce Canada’s reputation as a rising power in world athletics.
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