Matthew Forgues (born April 17, 1992) is an American racewalker. Forgues earned gold for the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2019 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Forgues was runner up in the 50 km walk at the 2020 United States Olympic Trials in Santee, California in a time of 4:14:42.
Early life and education Forgues was born on April 17, 1992, in from Boothbay, Maine, to Linda and Michael Forgues. He began racewalking at seven years old. His older sister Lauren is also a racewalker.
Forgues attended Boothbay Region High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Goucher College in 2014. While at Goucher, Forgues studied abroad in Santiago, Chile, where he ran in the Santiago Marathon.
Career In 2010, Forgues earned a spot on the U.S. junior national racewalk team. In 2011, Forgues came in fourth in NAIA's 5,000-meter championships. He placed fifth in the 50 kilometer race walk at the 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. At the 2016 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, he placed fourth. He earned third at the same event in 2017. In September 2017, Forgues won the 40 kilometer racewalk at the National Championships. Forgues earned silver for the 50 kilometres race walk at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. In an international competition in Monterrey, Mexico, he came in 8th place. In January 2019, Forgues won his first 50 km National title at the 2019 USA 50 km Race Walk Championships. Forgues is currently training for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
After college graduation, Forgues taught at Standing Rock Indian Reservation where he resumed racewalking. He is a full-time educator at Whole Foods Market in San Diego.
Achievements Representing the 2008World ChampionshipsCheboksary, Russia51st10 km47:462009Pan Am CupSan Salvador, El Salvador13th10 km50:102009Pan Am Junior ChampionshipsPort of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago9th10 km48:422016World ChampionshipsRome, Italy97th20 km1:35:422017US National Championships Santee, United States 3rd50 km4:31:402017Pan Am CupLima, Peru11th50 km4:29:142018World Team ChampionshipsTaicang, China46th50 km4:18:172018US National Championships Santee, United States 2nd50 km4:23:282019Pan Am Cup Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico12th50 km4:15:222019US National Championships Santee, United States 1st50 km4:27:282019Pan Am Games Lima, Peru5th50 km4:19:282020US Olympic Trials Santee, United States 2nd50 km4:14:42
Personal life Forgues ran a marathon in New York. He is gay and married to Manuel Martinez. He is lactose intolerant.
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