The 2015 IAAF World Championships begin Saturday in Beijing, China with Canada fielding 12 entries in the top ten in their respective event. This edition of the World Championships is expected to be the largest with final entries indicating that 1936 athletes from 207 countries will compete in Beijing.
Canada won five medals at the last World Championships in 2013 (Moscow, Russia). The team is coming off an impressive performance at the Pan American Games winning 26 medals, also an all-time best. 22 of the 26 medallists from Pan Ams will compete in Beijing.
Canadians ranked top 10 in IAAF World Championships entries
Name, Rank, Event | Competition day(s)
Brianne Theisen-Eaton, 1st – Heptathlon, August 22 - 23
Christabel Nettey, 2nd – Long Jump | Qualifying August 27 / Final August 28
Damian Warner, 2nd – Decathlon | August 28-29
Shawn Barber, 3rd – Pole Vault | Qualifying August 22 / Final August 24
Derek Drouin, 4th – High Jump | Qualifying August 28 / Final August 30
Cameron Levins, 4th – 10000m | Final August 22
Women’s 4x400m, 6th | Heats August 29 / Final August 30
Women’s 4x100m, 7th | Heats August 29 / Final August 30
Sultana Frizell, 7th – Hammer Throw | Qualifying August 26 / Final August 27
Men’s 4x100m, 7th | Heats August 29 / Final August 30
Elizabeth Gleadle, 10th – Javelin | Qualifying August 28 / Final August 30
Mike Mason, 10th - High Jump | Qualifying August 28 / Final August 30
The team, with an average age of 25-years old, features six World Championships medallists, 14 Canadian record holders and 17 first time athletes at a Senior World Championships. 24 athletes (17 women, 7 men) enter the event with their 2015 seasonal best standing as their top all-time best.
Visit Athletics Canada’s World Championships hub page to stay on top of all the action in Beijing, including full Canadian team roster, schedule, results and day by day listing of the Canadian competition schedule.
# of World Senior Championships medallists
6 – Aaron Brown (4x100m / 2013), Justyn Warner (4x100m / 2013), Gavin Smellie (4x100m / 2013), Derek Drouin (High jump, 2013), Damian Warner (Decathlon / 2013), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (Heptathlon, 2013)
# of Canadian Record Holders
Women – 7
Rachel Seaman (20km RW), Brianne Theisen-Eaton (Heptathlon), Sultana Frizell (Hammer), Elizabeth Gleadle (Javelin), Lanni Marchant (Marathon), Christabel Nettey (Long jump), Natasha Wodak (10000m)
Men – 7
Evan Dunfee (20km RW), Shawn Barber (Pole vault), Andre De Grasse (200m), Derek Drouin (High jump), Matthew Hughes (3000m SC), Cameron Levins (10000m), Damian Warner (Decathlon)
# of Olympic medallists
1 – Derek Drouin, 2012, high jump
1st time World Senior Championships
Women – 10
Fiona Benson (800m), Sage Watson (400mH/4x400m), Aiyanna Stiverne (4x400m), Audrey Jean-Baptiste (400m/4x400m), Nicole Sassine (4x400m), Isatu Fofanah (4x100m), Shaina Harrison (4x100m), Geneviève Lalonde (3000m SC), Erin Teschuk (3000m SC), Natasha Wodak (10000m)
Men – 7
Mathieu Bilodeau (50km RW), Jonathan Carbal (110mH), Akeem Haynes (4x100m), Brandon Rodney (200m/4x100m), Andre De Grasse (100m/4x100m), Sekou Kaba (110mH), Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (1500m)
Average age (as of competition day)
Women – 25.26 years of age
Men – 25.04 years of age
Youngest athlete
Women - Aiyanna Stiverne, 4x400m, 20 years old, February 20, 1995
Men – Andre De Grasse, 100m / 4x100m, 20 years old, November 10, 1994
Oldest athlete
Women – Natasha Wodak, 10000m, 33 years old, December 17, 1981
Men - Taylor Milne, 3000m SC, 33 years old, September 14, 1981
