Dane Bird-Smith (Qld)

One of four Australians who have medalled in the 20km walk at the Olympics, Dane’s bronze in Rio produced the best performance yet with a 1hr:19m.37s.

He lowered that to 1:19.28 for a new PB finishing sixth the next year at the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships in London.

The next year he was Commonwealth champion taking gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Games in 1:19.34, which took 28 seconds off the Games record set by Nathan Deakes in 2006 in Melbourne.

That’s some walking CV for someone who started out in athletics as a sprinter, winning a national U20 title as a member of the Queensland 4x400m relay team.

He is a three-time winner of the 20km at the Oceania Race Walking Championships (2017, 2019, 2020).

Dane’s progression at three IAAF World Championships – 11^th in 2013 in Moscow, 8^th in 2015 in Beijing and then 6^th in 2017 in London – has been outstanding. Taking on the Russian course in 2013 had great personal significance as it was the same his father and coach Dave Smith competed on 33 years earlier at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

As well has having his dad on his side, Dane trains with his two dogs Pina (Italian greyhound) and Rocky (Chihuahua).

He married long-time partner Katy, late in 2017 and studies at the University of Queensland completing a Bachelor of Health Sport and Physical Education.