Matthew Forgues (born April 17, 1992) is an American racewalker. Forgues earned gold for the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Forgues was runner up in the 50 km walk at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials in Santee, California in a time of 4:14:42.[1]

Matthew Forgues
Personal information
Born (1992-04-17) April 17, 1992 (age 31)
Boothbay, Maine, U.S.
EducationGoucher College (B.A.)
Sport
Country United States
SportRacewalking
Event50km Race Walk
Medal record
USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Sacramento 50 km walk
Silver medal – second place 2018 Des Moines 50 km walk
Gold medal – first place 2019 Des Moines 50 km walk

Early life and education edit

Forgues was born on April 17, 1992, in from Boothbay, Maine, to Linda and Michael Forgues. He began racewalking at seven years old. His older sister Lauren is also a racewalker.[2]

Forgues attended Boothbay Region High School.[3] He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Goucher College in 2014.[3] While at Goucher, Forgues studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, where he ran in the Santiago Marathon.[4]

Career edit

In 2010, Forgues earned a spot on the U.S. junior national racewalk team.[5] In 2011, Forgues came in fourth in NAIA's 5,000-meter championships.[2] He placed fifth in the 50 kilometer race walk at the 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. At the 2016 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he placed fourth. He earned third at the same event in 2017. In September 2017, Forgues won the 40 kilometer racewalk at the National Championships. Forgues earned silver for the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In an international competition in Monterrey, Mexico, he came in 8th place. In January 2019, Forgues won his first 50km National title at the 2019 USA 50km Race Walk Championships. Forgues is currently training for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[3]

After college graduation, Forgues taught at Standing Rock Indian Reservation where he resumed racewalking. He is a full-time educator at Whole Foods Market in San Diego.[3]

Achievements edit

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the   United States
2008 World Championships Cheboksary, Russia 51st 10 km 47:46
2009 Pan Am Cup San Salvador, El Salvador 13th 10 km 50:10
2009 Pan Am Junior Championships Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 9th 10 km 48:42
2016 World Championships Rome, Italy 97th 20 km 1:35:42
2017 US National Championships Santee, United States 3rd 50 km 4:31:40
2017 Pan Am Cup Lima, Peru 11th 50 km 4:29:14
2018 World Team Championships Taicang, China 46th 50 km 4:18:17
2018 US National Championships Santee, United States 2nd 50 km 4:23:28
2019 Pan Am Cup Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico 12th 50 km 4:15:22
2019 US National Championships Santee, United States 1st 50 km 4:27:28
2019 Pan Am Games Lima, Peru 5th 50 km 4:19:28
2020 US Olympic Trials Santee, United States 2nd 50 km 4:14:42

Personal life edit

Forgues ran a marathon in New York. He is gay and married to Manuel Martinez.[6] He is lactose intolerant.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "50k OT MEN".
  2. ^ a b Lowe, Mike (June 5, 2011). "Racewalking keeps picking up speed". Press Herald. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e Thayer, Suzi (March 6, 2018). "Boothbay's Matthew Forgues, Olympic hopeful in racewalking". Boothbay Register. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Cherry, Christine (October 11, 2013). "Forgues gives up vegan lifestyle to embrace abroad experience". The Quindecim. Goucher College. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  5. ^ "Huntingdon athlete earns spot on US junior national racewalk team". WSFA 12 News. July 5, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  6. ^ Forgues, Matthew (October 31, 2019). "Gay Olympic 2020 track hopeful lets his performance do the talking". Outsports. Retrieved March 18, 2020.