Caio Bonfim: World Champion and Olympic Medalist in Race Walking

Hosts Fabio Bessa and Thiago Kawamura of Radar Stemma welcome Caio Bonfim, world champion and Olympic medalist in race walking, for a conversation that unveils the challenges and triumphs of his career. Live from the Brazilian Athletics Trophy, where he competed in half-marathon events and prepares for the 35 km, Caio shares his story and the evolution of the sport in Brazil.

From Sobradinho to World Podiums: The Trajectory of Caio Bonfim

Caio Bonfim's passion for sports began at home, driven by his father, a runner and physical educator, and his mother, a multi-champion in race walking. Raised in a home where athletics was central, Caio doesn't remember when he learned to walk. His father, observing his physical fitness, enrolled him in a competition at age 10, where he quickly excelled. Although he dedicated himself to soccer in his adolescence, his potential in race walking was undeniable. A bet with his father led him to the Copa Brasil, where he surprisingly qualified for a Pan American Cup, solidifying his decision to become a race walker. He stated clearly: “In 4 months, I was Brazilian champion, second in South America, and 12th in the world in my category.”

Overcoming Prejudice and Seeking Recognition

The early years in race walking were marked by prejudice and a lack of recognition. Caio recalls his adolescence, when teachers and classmates questioned his choice, and the taunts on the streets during training. However, he found strength in his family and his father's conviction: “You don't just want results, do you? You want to popularize your sport?” The answer was to bring good results in World Championships and Olympics. The turning point came with the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where he won a medal, a joyful moment that surpassed even future Olympic and World Championship achievements. The 2016 Rio Olympics, with his fourth-place finish, solidified his position and changed public perception of race walking in his hometown, Sobradinho, DF.

Technical Evolution and Multidisciplinary Support

After a 13th-place finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021), Caio faced a profound reflection. He realized that what had led him to previous results wouldn't be enough for the podium. He decided to challenge his beliefs and fully trust his multidisciplinary team: physiologist, nutritionist, physical trainer, biomechanist, and physical therapist. “I gave my all, I believed in them,” he states. His mother, already a technical coach, was fundamental in combining the best techniques from European and Asian schools, focusing on more economical and efficient movement. Biomechanist Franklin from the Brazilian Olympic Committee, and physiologist Helvio provided crucial data for fine-tuning. The arrival of Puma as a sponsor in 2025 (the year the interviewee mentions the Tokyo World Championships occurred) and their high-performance shoes were the “icing on the cake,” correcting the final technical details and optimizing energy expenditure.

Training Methodology and the Mental Challenge

For Caio, the secret to high-level race walking lies in training volume and consistency. His father always preached: “the secret to endurance is endurance.” He focuses on long, quality kilometers, like 40 km training sessions, so the body gets accustomed to the effort. During races, mental management is crucial: “I try not to think during the race, because if you give it more weight than it has, it’s just another race, like any other.”

Carbohydrate supplementation is another essential pillar. With the possibility of refueling every kilometer on closed circuits, Caio and his team adjusted intake to 80g per hour, combining dextrose, fructose (unrefined cane sugar/rapadura), and Force Cell energy gels. He emphasizes the importance of science and physiological monitoring to refine this strategy, which has been a differentiator in his performance, citing the “Norwegian endurance school” as an example.