Carlos De Imus walks his way to a better future, breaking barriers, and setting a new national record of 1:30:00.03 in the men’s 20-kilometer walk at the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan.
Every step Carlos De Imus takes on the racewalking track is a step toward his dream—one where his family no longer worries about his education.
That journey reached new heights as he set a national record in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk at the Asian Race Walk Championships in Nomi, Japan.
The 24-year-old clocked 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 0.03 of a second (1:30:00.03), shattering the previous Philippine record of 1:33:51 set in 2009. His time was faster than Indonesia’s Hendro Yap’s 2023 SEA Games gold-winning mark and even outpaced Yap’s SEA Games record from 2017.
But for De Imus, the race isn’t just about records—it’s about walking his way to a better future.
A Race for Education
Before becoming a record-breaker, De Imus tried every event—sprints, jumps, anything that could open doors.
He knew being good wasn’t enough; he had to be different.
“Kailangan maging unique ako kasi hindi naman kami well-off family. Sabi ko gusto kong makapag-aral sa isang university, gusto kong makapagtapos ako ng libre. Gusto ko matulungan ‘yung parents ko na hindi mag-isip when it comes to my studies," he told One PH.
To support himself, he worked as a line judge, volleyball scorer, and fun run marshall.
“‘Yung ate ko, pinapasok niya ako sa mga line judge sa volleyball, naging scorer ako sa volleyball, naging marshall sa mga fun run para hindi na ako humingi ng baon kila mama. Sa ibang kapatid ko na lang ibigay.”
Every race was another chance to move closer to his dream.
Step by Step to the Olympics
Like any athlete, his ultimate goal is the Olympics. But he knows success isn’t won in one giant leap—it’s walked, step by step.
“Lahat naman ng athlete, future is to make the Olympics. Wala namang imposible. Pero step by step, sabi ni coach.”
Every stride tells a story.
With each step, Carlos De Imus isn’t just breaking records—he’s walking into history, into a future where his family’s sacrifices are honored, and where his Olympic dream is finally within reach.
(With reports from One PH)