Name: David Kenny
Club: Farranfore-Maine Valley AC
Event: 20km racewalk
Personal Best: 1:19.44
Tokyo Schedule: Sat 20 Sept 1:45
Background
David Kenny is another member of the Irish team that has come through the athletics Ireland juvenile system. Specializing in racewalking, the Kerryman first donned the green vest for a major at the European racewalking cup in Lithuania in 2019. A few months later he competed at the European u23 Championships, crossing the line in 9th place. Fast forward two years and Kenny stood on the podium at those same championships (this time in Estonia) holding a silver medal. He was further rewarded with qualification for the Tokyo Olympics later that year. A race where he finished 29th.
Between 2021 and 2025 there has been two further world championships, European racewalking cups and several Irish championship titles. Kenny was unfortunate to pick up an injury that side-lined him for much of 2024, including an opportunity to compete in the Olympics in Paris.
His fortune turned a corner towards the end of 2024. Racing in the World Racewalking Tour event in Dublin he took the title with a comeback time of 1:22.21. Racing carefully, to ensure no resumption of injuries, he won the Guadix GP in Spain in February with a time of 1:22.41. Thus, re-enforcing his consistency over the event. By May he had lowered his seasons best to 1:20.54 to take 11th place at the European Racewalking Team Championships in Czechia. His 39.39.93 achieved on winning his 15th national senior championship title, was a new personal best. A personal best that moved him to third on the all-time list behind Olympian medallist Rob Heffernan and Jamie Costin.
While many runners feel a sub 40 min 10km is far beyond their reach while running, putting Kenny’s time in perspective, one can only really appreciate the speed at which Kenny and his fellow race walkers can reach.
Ireland has a strong reputation at World Championships in terms of racewalking medals. In 1991 Gillian O’Sullivan took silver in the 20km in Paris. In Moscow in 2012 Rob Heffernan won gold in the 50km walk and in 2009 Olive Loughnane took gold in the 20km in Berlin. With David Kenny and Oisin Lane along with some outstanding u18 to 23 year olds, the pipeline for further success is growing. Coached by multiple racewalking Olympian Jamie Costin, Tokyo will be David Kenny’s third World Championship appearance.
International Majors
2019: European Racewalking Cup, Lithuania 20km walk 31st
2019: European u23 Championships, Sweden 20km walk 9th
2021: European u23 Championships, Estonia 20km walk 2nd
2021: Olympic Games, Japan 20km walk 29th
2022: World Championships, Oregon 20km walk, 39th
2023: European Racewalking Team Championships, Czechia 20km walk 16th
2023: World Championships, Budapest 20km walk
2025: European Racewalking Team Championships, Czechia 20km walk 11th
2025: World Championships 20km Racewalk, Tokyo
Personal Bests
20km RW: 1:19.44 02/04/2022
10,000m: 39:39.93 02/08/2025
5000m: 19:04.76 23/02/2025
10km: 40:20 05/08/2020