In a historic Canadian track and field night, at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Pierce LePage and Damian Warner secured gold and silver in the men’s decathlon. Whitby’s LePage clinched his first world title with a remarkable 8,909 points, setting a world-leading score and becoming the first Canadian to achieve this feat in the event. Notably, he improved upon his silver medal from the previous year.

LePage’s exceptional performance included personal bests in the 110m hurdles and season’s bests in the pole vault, 1,500m, high jump, and 400m. This elevated his personal best score to 8,909, surpassing his previous record of 8,701 points from last year’s championship.

Warner, aged 33, secured the silver medal with 8,804 points, outperforming Grenada’s Lindon Victor, who claimed the bronze with a national record of 8,756 points. LePage expressed his happiness at becoming world champion and praised Warner’s exemplary sportsmanship.

This historic achievement marked the first time a Canadian man won the decathlon at a world championship, and it was also Canada’s first one-two finish in the event. Warner, who holds Olympic and world indoors gold medals, celebrated the accomplishment, emphasizing LePage’s hard work and dedication.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships have been a significant success for Canada. Heading into the last day of competition, the nation had already earned six medals, including four gold and two silver. Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers both secured gold in the men’s and women’s hammer throw, while Marco Arop claimed gold in the men’s 800m final. The Canadian contingent also featured silver medalists Damian Warner and Sarah Mitton (shot put).

Taking place from August 19-27 at Budapest’s National Stadium, these championships have showcased remarkable Canadian achievements in track and field, solidifying the nation’s presence on the global stage.