Race walker Zoe Woods can pick the time she decided to chase her Olympic dream, in a discipline that Australia has a very proud tradition in.
“I understood the immense commitment, sacrifice and years of dedication required to reach that level, and I wasn’t ready to promise myself or anyone something I wasn’t completely certain I wanted it,” she told Australian Athletics.
“When I was 16, I woke up on May 23rd, 2024, and just knew in my heart that being an elite athlete is what I wanted to do and I decided from that date to chase the Olympic dream.”
A big part of that Olympic dream, including aiming for Brisbane 2032, will be competing for Australia in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, the United States next month.
Woods, 18 (NSW, David Beacroft) will go into the 5000m race walk as the No.2 ranked walker in the U20 women’s race in the world.
She is part of a very strong walking team, undoubtedly one of Australia’s best, who will race in Eugene at the famous Hayward Field.
Joining her will be Isaac Beacroft (NSW, David Beacroft) who will be racing in his second U20 World Championships, Owen Toyne (ACT, David Beacroft) and Sophie Polkinghorne (NSW, David Beacroft) in the red-hot Australian team.
Woods is going to relish every single moment of the World Athletics U20 Championships as she tried two years ago to make it when she was 16, but suffered an injury that prevented her to race her best at the trials and she missed out.
“After missing out last time I made a commitment to myself that I wouldn’t just qualify for the next World Championships, I would also be a strong contender in the race” she said.
The World Athletics U20 Championships are perfect timing for Woods, she is in her gap year and will next year start a Law and Journalism degree at the University of Technology in Sydney.
As for Beacroft, he is the only Australian athlete who will compete in both the Commonwealth Games (10,000m race walk) and the U20 World Championships (5000m race walk).
He is currently in Europe preparing for his first big race in his double attempt, which takes place in Glasgow on Saturday, August 1.
“It was a tough decision, but the right decision I think for me to race both events,” he said.
“I thought I’ve got the capacity to do both, and it was hard to choose just one so I thought I’d go for it.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m prepared for it.”
Beacroft finished fourth at the last World Athletics U20 Championships in Peru and he has only got better and more experienced since.
He has the World U20 10,000m race walk world record to his name.
In Eugene he will race the 5000m, the only walking race on the schedule of events.
At only 18, this will be his sixth Australian team which is a remarkable achievement.
Beacroft has had a long history in the sport of athletics.
He was a very handy AFL footballer, but thankfully for the sport, he has chosen race walking and he has huge ambitions.
“There is a strong history of athletics in my family which saw me register to start when I was four years old in (Little Athletics) Tiny Tots,” he said.
“My Dad and his three brothers all went through the Little Athletics pathway with great success.”
Beacroft continued with athletics, and AFL football, and recently chose race walking and started to focus seriously on the sport, with brilliant success.
He is going to soak every moment in Oregon, in what will be his last major junior event.
“The last U20s was such a great experience, it kicked off my international career,” he said.
“I made great friends and embraced the team environment as much as I could.
“I can’t wait to get there.”
The World Athletics U20 Championships kicks off in Eugene, Oregon, the United States on August 5 to August 9.
By Luke Dennehy, Australian Athletics
Posted 16/7/2026
