Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
10,000m walk: 2002 - 2nd (junior), 2003 - 2nd (junior), 2004 - 1st (junior)
10km walk: 2003 - 2nd (junior), 2004 - 1st (junior)
20km walk: 2005 - 3rd, 2006 - 2nd (U23), 2007 - 3rd (open) 1st (U23), 2008 - 3rd (open) 1st (U23)
50km walk: 2007 - 2nd

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
World Youth Championships: 2003 - 10,000m walk DNF
World Junior Championships: 2004 - 10,000m walk DQ
World Race Walking Cup: 2004 - 10km walk (junior) 9th (42.07), 2006 - 20km walk 50th (1:26.54), 2008 - 20km walk 44th (1:24.57, team 3rd)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION

3000m walk
2002    12.12.20
2003    12.12.99
2004    11.38.0
2005    11.43.08

5000m walk
2002    21.32.17
2003    21.11.03
2004    19.55.35
2005    19.54.84
2006    19.36.30

10,000m walk
2002    44.20.0
2003    44.25.58
2004    44.02.15

10km walk
2004    40.54.0
2005    42.54.0

20km walk
2005    1:24.46
2006    1:22.41
2007    1:26.43
2008    1:24.57

50km walk
2007    3:52.49

EVENTS/PERSONAL BESTS
3000m walk: 11.27.70 - Sydney, 17/02/06
5000m walk: 19.36.30 - Melbourne, 9/03/06
10,000m walk: 41.47.44 - Adelaide, 19/02/05
10km walk: 40.54.00 - Sydney, 26/06/04
20km walk: 1:22.55 - Yangzhou (CHN), 22/04/06
30km walk: 2:16.09 - Canberra, 10/06/07
50km walk: 3:52.49 - Melbourne, 16/12/07

RECORDS
National under-20 record - 10km walk: 40.54 - Sydney, 26/06/04
National under-20 record - 20km walk: 1:24.46 - Sydney, 6/03/05

Interesting Facts

Adam is undertaking a Bachelor of Arts with a major in ancient history.

Sporting Career

A race walker since his pre-teens, Adam set the under-14 1500m walk record at Sydney Pacific Athletics Club as a 12 year-old. A year later, he finished fourth at the Australian All Schools Championships in the under-16 1500m walk.

In 2003, Adam won selection for the World Youth Championships at 16 when he finished second to Jared Tallent in the Australian Junior 10,000m track championships and again at the Australian Junior 10km championship in Canberra in June. Adam travelled to Sherbrooke, Canada for his international debut but failed to finish the race.

Adam finished second in 46.42.72 to West Australian Michael McCagh in the 2004 Australian Junior 10,000m championship and secured a place in the junior men’s team for the World Race Walking Cup. That was held in Naumburg, Germany and Adam set a huge personal best in finishing ninth in 42.07.

A win in the Australian junior 10km walk in Canberra in June preceded the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy in July. Australia’s sole representative in the men’s 10,000m walk, Adam was well-placed when disqualified.

The new year commenced with a re-location to the Australian Institute of Sport, with McCagh, to join coach Brent Vallance. A training regime was geared towards the 20km distance and, a month after securing the Australian Junior 10,000m championship ahead of his training partner, Adam finished third to Nathan Deakes and Luke Adams. His time of 1:24.46 was a new Australian junior record.

In a departure from the walks, Adam contested the 2005 Australian Mountain Running Championships held in Canberra and finished third in the junior men’s event.

Adam was squeezed out of Commonwealth Games selection as fourth wheel to Deakes, Adams and Tallent but kept his chin up and finished second to the latter at the Australian under-23 20km walk championship in 1:26.51 and set a new personal best in Yangzhou, China in April (1:22.55). That result was an Olympic/World Championships A-qualifying time, making Adam the youngest Australian race walker in history to secure the mark at 19 years 124 days.

Taking the under-23 title in 2007, Adam missed World Championships selection and gave up his AIS scholarship to return to Sydney. A month later, he returned to Canberra determined as ever.

In May, Adam’s focus embraced the 50km distance and in December it was put to the test. The event unfolded stunningly as Adam finished second to Tallent in the championship and he earned nomination for selection to the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing 2008.

Eight days shy of his 21st birthday, Adam’s time of 3:52.49 saw him become the youngest Australian male to achieve the Olympic A-standard over 50km.

An exciting young career has emerged.