Rio profile: Evan Dunfee
Evan Dunfee is a 25-year-old walker from Richmond, BC.
Event: 20km racewalk and 50km racewalk
Major: Kinesiology
Career highlights: Twice represented Canada at the World Championships, won gold in the 20km walk at the 2015 Pan American Games, and holds the national record in the 50km walk.
How did you get your start in track & field?
My elementary school introduced a lunch time popsicle stick run when I was in grade 4 and I was immediately hooked. Running 6-7km every day, I soon joined the Richmond Kajaks Track and Field Club and haven’t looked back since.
What would you say your spirit animal is and why?
Giraffe, our long necks enable us to graze on high up fruit.
Who is your role model?
Someone like Terry Fox has always been high on my list, being one of the earliest Canadian heroes I can remember learning about in school his attitudes and goals I think were very tightly related to the spirit of sport.
Favourite spot on campus?
I’m a homebody, so it was wherever I was living. My favorite was my Marine Drive studio apartment.
Favourite Marek quote?
- Border guard: “How much alcohol are you bringing back with you?”
- Marek: “The limit”
What’s the most money you’ve ever spent drunkenly at McDonald's?
I’m more of a hungover McDonald’s breakfast kind of guy.
Most food you’ve ever eaten in one sitting?
Coming off a high fat diet study in Australia I started the day under 65kg and by the end of the night (and lots and lots of carbs) I was up to 70kg before bed.
Turning point in your career when you thought "I could be good at this?"
Entering Kinesiology at UBC and learning about physiology reignited my passion for wanting to be the best.
What was your darkest moment as an athlete, and how did you get through it?
Missing out on the London Olympics was a big blow for me. I knew I was in shape to make the team but in my limited number of races the conditions didn’t cooperate. I had originally planned to wallow in my own self-pity, but on a Wednesday midway through the Olympics I decided I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself, booked a flight, left Thursday morning and arrived in London just in time to watch my teammate compete. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Nickname people call you?
Dunfee, or if friends with my older brother: Mini-Dunfee
Competing aside, what are you most looking forward to in Rio?
All the free stuff you get! And watching my teammates compete.
