Canada’s Marco Arop a role model to other athletes at World Athletics Championships

On Tuesday evening in Budapest, Canada’s Marco Arop opened his campaign at the 2023 World Athletics Championship with a confident and “easy” heat win to advance to Thursday’s 800m semifinal. He won in style, high-fiving his new friend and competitor, Italy’s Simone Barontini, before crossing the finish line in 1:45.05.

After the viral high-five photo, the two posed, unlacing their track spikes in front of the cameras. When asked about the exchange with Barontini, Arop replied, “He’s an awesome guy! We met this week and became friends.”

Arop is the top-ranked 800m runner in the world, according to World Athletics rankings. He won bronze in the 800m at last year’s world championships in Eugene, Ore., and emphasized that he wanted more for this year in Budapest.

The 24-year-old from Edmonton was named team captain of the Canadian squad here in Budapest, alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the shot put, Sarah Mitton. 

Scarborough, Ont.’s Abdullahi Hassan also praised Arop’s leadership and guidance after making his world championship debut on Tuesday night in the 800m. Hassan came within two-tenths of a second of his personal best to place fifth in his heat, in 1:46.33.

“I’ve never been to a competition like this or a stadium this big,” said Hassan in a post-race interview. “Marco told me to take in the moment and experience. He’s been a great leader, and has been through an experience like this. He is someone I look up to.”

Arop said it’s fun to share tips he’s learned in his four years of running professionally. “I love helping out other athletes,” he said post-race. “They remind me of when I came up, and I had so many people I was looking up to. It’s really awesome.”

Arop will be in Heat 2 of the men’s 800m semifinals on Thursday evening, with the hope of advancing to the final taking place on Saturday.

The 2023 World Athletics Championships are taking place from August 19-27 at the National Stadium in Budapest, Hungary. All the action will be brought to you by Canadian Running and Asics Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.