Matthew Hughes (born August 3, 1989) is a Canadian middle- and

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires stamina as well as mental strength. Within endurance ru ...

. He is the current Canadian record holder for men in the

steeplechase SteepleChase Records is a jazz record company and label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time. He began recording concerts at Jazzhus Montmartre, ...

, a record which he set at the

2013 World Championships in Athletics The 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (Moscow 2013; ) was an international athletics (sport), athletics competition held in Moscow, Russia, from 10 to 18 August 2013. Initially, Russia at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics, Russia ...

. Hughes was part of the Bowermann Track Club, a Nike-sponsored training group based in Portland, Oregon and coached by

Jerry Schumacher Jerry Schumacher (born August 6, 1970) is an American coach for track and field and cross country. Since 2022, he has been the head coach of the University of Oregon's track and field and cross country programs. He has also served as the head ...

. Hughes retired from professional running in 2022. In 2023 he was elected Deputy Chair of the

World Athletics World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international sports governing body, governing body for the sport ...

Athletes' Commission, where he is "passionate about making our sport a better place for all and continuing to be a voice for athletes.”. Hughes competed in the NCAA for the

University of Louisville The University of Louisville (UofL) is a public university, public research university in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. It is part of the Kentucky state university system. Chartered in 1798 as the Jefferson Seminary, it became in the 19t ...

where he was a two-time NCAA champion in the 3000 m steeplechase. He has a degree in sport sciences from that university.Matthew Hughes
nbcolympics.com In July 2016, he was named to Canada's Olympic team. He placed tenth in the 3000 m steeplechase at the

2016 Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Rio 2016, were an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with preliminary events i ...

. Hughes placed 14th in the 3000 m steeplechase at the

2019 World Athletics Championships The 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships () was the seventeenth edition of the biennial, global sport of athletics, athletics competition organised by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), since renamed World Athleti ...

. Competing at his second Olympics at the 2020 Summer Olympics in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, Hughes placed sixth in the steeplechase, the highest-ever placement for a Canadian in the event.

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* * * * * * 1989 births Living people Sportspeople from Oshawa Canadian male long-distance runners Canadian male steeplechase runners Commonwealth Games athletes for Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Pan American Games gold medalists for Canada Pan American Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Athletes (track and field) at the 2015 Pan American Games World Athletics Championships athletes for Canada Louisville Cardinals men's track and field athletes Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes for Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Canadian Track and Field Championships winners Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics 21st-century Canadian sportsmen NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners {{ULouisville-stub