Gabriela DeBues-Stafford dominates in her 1,500m comeback

It’s confirmed–Canadian Olympian Gabriela DeBues-Stafford is officially back, and she’s rekindling her bond with her signature event, the 1,500m. At the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday, DeBues-Stafford clocked her fastest 1,500m in two years–4:03.81–to win by more than four seconds.

 

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A post shared by Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (@gabrielastafford)

“Guys, we are so back!” DeBues-Stafford wrote on Instagram. “4:03.8 and the win today in a push from the front! Was a pretty breezy day but a good pacer and big stadium to block the worst of the wind–and training in Scotland preps you well to handle it!”

The 29-year-old admitted to having set her expectations to run about a 4:07, and came out very pleased with her result; her partner, Rowan, had predicted her finishing time correctly. Rowan co-coaches DeBues-Stafford alongside Mark Rowland in Edinburgh, Scotland, as part of the University of Edinburgh’s Global Endurance Project. The pair relocated from Vancouver Island in late 2024 for a fresh start.

“Feeling very grateful for Rowan,” DeBues-Stafford wrote. “Was so close to retiring last year, but he refused to believe I was truly done. Not sure I’d still be in the sport without him. I’m happy, healthy and enjoying racing more than I have in years. Excited for what is next, but soaking in today!”

DeBues-Stafford holds seven Canadian track records, from the 1,500m to the 5,000m. She represented Canada at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where she placed fifth in the 1,500m.

The runner has had a tough past few years battling serious injuries; in 2024, she struggled to regain her form in the 1,500m–her fastest performance that year was 4:15.09, nearly 20 seconds off her 2019 personal best and Canadian record of 3:56.12.

She even moved up to the 5,000m in a last effort to qualify for her third Olympic team, but fell just short of this goal.

Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford runs speedy 3,000m race in Belfast

The Canadian opened her season two weeks ago with a 3,000m at the Belfast Irish Milers Meet in Northern Ireland, clocking 8:39.35–her fastest run since setting the Canadian indoor record in 2022. She’ll be racing again on June 7 at the FAST5000 in Maisons-Laffitte, France, where she’ll target the women’s 5,000m world championship standard of 14:50.