Three-time Olympic walker Chris Erickson retires

Three-time national champion and fifteen-time Australian representative, Chris Erickson, has announced his retirement from competitive race-walking, after an illustrious career that has spanned over 20 years.

The son of former Australian walking representative Tim Erickson, it was perhaps inevitable that Chris would choose race-walking as his sport of choice, given the continued exposure to the sport throughout his formative years. 

“Like most athletes, the support of my parents was invaluable and I had no greater influence than my Dad as a coach and sounding board”, Chris said. 

 This exposure undoubtedly also played a role in his successful junior career as a race-walker, which saw him regularly medal at state, federation and national levels.

2002 saw Chris win his first Victorian senior title, the 15 km (1:10:32), as well as walk his first Canberra 20 miler - a very creditable 5^th in 2:44:37. 

 This was an indication of where his real walking future would lie, with the 20km and 50km distances to become his pet events.

With a string of solid domestic seasons under his belt, Chris made his first senior Australian team in 2004, competing at the Race-walking World Cup in Naumburg. Here Chris finished the 50km event in 31^st place in a time of 4:14:16.

Chris went on to represent Australia a further 14 times on the international stage between 2006-2016, including two Commonwealth Games (2006, 2010), three Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016), four IAAF World Championships (2007, 2009, 2013, 2015) and five Race-walking World Cups (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014).

He achieved a number of top 10 finishes, with a bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne a standout performance, as well as his top 10 finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

Chris’ outstanding career as one of Australia’s best track & field athletes is not only reflected by this long list of achievements, but also by his regular inclusion in the Australian Team leadership groups.

“I walk from my career extremely proud of what I achieved, the highlight being three Olympics and coming away with 10th and a PB in Rio”, Chris said. 

 â€œI am extremely grateful of all the support I had throughout my career, especially my time at the Australian Institute of Sport under the guidance of Brent Vallance, who I can't speak highly enough of”.

It seems this is a shared sentiment between athlete and coach, with Brent praising Chris as “a rare athlete” in that he was able to do an Olympic distance – 20km or 50km - PB in every year from 2008, right up until his mid-30’s in Rio. 

Brent went onto describe Chris as “a great person to travel with, a fantastic role model for new young athletes, and an incredibly happy and positive person to have around.”

Chris career was not all smooth sailing, however, overcoming a number of injuries and illnesses, as well as competing in an era of great depth for Australian race-walking. 

 These challenges undoubtedly made him a stronger and more versatile athlete, which is reflected his impressive list of PBs that highlight his ability over a range of distances:

While Athletics Australia and the race-walking community will miss Chris' presence and contribution to the sport, he is now looking to the next chapter of his life with his wife and two children, Oliver (aged 6) and Annie (aged 4).

“I'm truly indebted to my wife, Rachel, for her patience, inspiration and amazing support throughout my career and will be forever thankful to her," credits Chris. 

Having commenced his studies in nursing, as well as moved into a newly built family home in Port Lonsdale, his future definitely looks busy and bright.