Paul McGrath secures World Championship bronze in Tokyo

Paul McGrath secured a bronze medal in the 20km race walk at the World Championships in Tokyo. He finished with a time of 1:18:45, placing him just two seconds behind China's Wang Zhaozhao.

This podium finish follows a successful period for the 24-year-old. In May 2025, McGrath won the 20km race walk at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Poděbrady. That victory included a championship record time of 1:18:05, marking his first senior international title.

McGrath's performance in Tokyo also represented a milestone for his sponsor, Joma, as it was the first World Championship medal earned by an athlete supported by the Spanish brand. He concluded the season ranked third in the World Athletics Race Walking Tour, trailing only Caio Bonfim and Evan Dunfee.

Recent statistics show significant progress in his personal timings. He recorded a new half marathon walk best of 1:25:20 in May and a 10,000m walk personal best of 38:23.52 in July. He is currently ranked fourth in the world for the 20km distance, though his fastest outright 20km time of 1:17:55 was set in February 2024.

Born and raised in Barcelona, McGrath possesses a diverse heritage. His mother is Spanish, his father was born in Glasgow, and his grandparents are Irish. This background has often led to discussions regarding his nationality and the pronunciation of his surname.

His career trajectory has moved from junior successes to senior championship contention. After winning a European under-20 title and a world under-20 bronze in 2021, he secured a European under-23 title in 2023. Following his Olympic appearance in Paris 2024, he has established himself as a consistent presence in international race walking.