IAAF to Vote Whether to Keep 50-Kilometer Race Walk in Championship Program

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Rob Heffernan, an Irish race walker, has competed in five Olympics. At 39, he is already considering one more, Tokyo in 2020. However, he might not have the opportunity according to Ian O'Riordan of the Irish Times, because the IAAF is considering cutting his event.

Despite his age, Heffernan remains a championship contender. He won gold at the 2013 IAAF World Championships in the 50-kilometer race walk, he was awarded the bronze medal for the 2012 Olympics retroactively after he finished fourth and he finished sixth in Rio.

Later this month, the IAAF will be considering changes to the race walking program at the IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games. If agreed upon, the 50-kilometer race walk would go away. Additionally, the 20-kilometer race walk would become a half marathon race walk.

The 50-kilometer race walk is already an odd duck. The men compete at the distance, but the women do not, at least in the championship programs. In recent years, there has been a movement to add the event for women. Earlier this year, Ines Henriques set the first recognized world record over the 50-kilometer distance.

Should the IAAF vote to cut the 50-kilometer event, the changes will take place after the 2018 World Race Walking Cup. That means this year's IAAF World Championships in London and next year's Commonwealth Games in Australia would be unaffected.