The season of athletes farewell after the Olympics continues.
Today is the turn of a great athlete who at 38 has decided to quit: Matej Toth.
Born on February 10, 1983, Toth participated in five editions of the Olympic Games from that of Athens to that of Tokyo.
In the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 editions he had competed in the 20km without obtaining high level results: he was 33rd in Athens in 1:28:49 and respectively 26th in Beijing in 1:23:17.
The leap in quality took place in 2010 in the second season in which he had dedicated himself to the 50km when he unexpectedly won the then World Cup in Chihuahua in 3:53:30.
Since then his results on the 50km have been a Rossinian crescendo culminating in the victory at Dudince in 2015 when he set the personal best in 3:34:38 still today the national record of Slovakia.
Below is his progression in the 50km:
| | Performance | Place | Date |
| 2009 | 3:41:32 | Dudince (SVK) | 28 MAR 2009 |
| 2010 | 3:53:30 | Chihuahua (MEX) | 15 MAY 2010 |
| 2011 | 3:39:46 | Dudince (SVK) | 26 MAR 2011 |
| 2012 | 3:41:24 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 11 AUG 2012 |
| 2013 | 3:41:07 | Luzhniki, Moskva (RUS) | 14 AUG 2013 |
| 2014 | 3:36:21 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 15 AUG 2014 |
| 2015 | 3:34:38 | Dudince (SVK) | 21 MAR 2015 |
| 2016 | 3:40:58 | Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | 19 AUG 2016 |
| 2018 | 3:42:46 | Dudince (SVK) | 24 MAR 2018 |
| 2020 | 3:41:15 | Dudince (SVK) | 24 OCT 2020 |
| 2021 | 3:56:23 | Odori Park, Sapporo (JPN) | 06 AUG 2021 |
In his sports career he has achieved well
- 10 performances less than 3:45:00
- 3 performances lower than 3:40:00
- 2 performances lower than 3:38:00
- 1 performance less than 3:36:00
At the international level, he suffered only two disqualifications, ten years apart from each other.
The first was on 16.7.2005 in Erfurth (GER) at the European U23 Championships just over twenty-two, probably due to inexperience, and the second in Rio Maior (POR) on 18 April 2015.
These are his best ten performances in the 50km in which the gold at the Beijing 2015 World Championships and the most important one at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games stand out.
| Date | Competition | Place | Result |
| 21 MAR 2015 | Dudince Dudinska 50, Dudince | 1. | 3:34:38 |
| 15 AUG 2014 | Zürich European Championships, Zürich | 2. | 3:36:21 |
| 26 MAR 2011 | Dudince EAA Permit Meeting, Dudince | 1. | 3:39:46 |
| 29 AUG 2015 | Beijing IAAF World Championships, Beijing | 1. | 3:40:32 |
| 19 AUG 2016 | Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro | 1. | 3:40:58 |
| 14 AUG 2013 | Moskva IAAF World Championships, Moskva | 4. | 3:41:07 |
| 24 OCT 2020 | Dudinska 50, Dudince | 1. | 3:41:15 |
| 28 MAR 2009 | Dudince EAA Permit Meeting, Dudince | 2. | 3:41:32 |
| 11 AUG 2012 | London Olympic Games, London | 5. | 3:41:24 |
| 24 MAR 2018 | Dudince Dudinska 50, Dudince | 1. | 3:42:46 |
Marcia dal Mondo boasts a particular friendship with Matej Toth, by virtue of which we took the liberty of asking him some questions about his competitive career and personal facts that occurred during that period.
Below is his answers to our questions in bold.
When you started with race walking
In 1996
How many and who have been your coaches
Three:
1996-2002 Peter Mečiar
2002-2013 Juraj Benčík
2013-2021 Matej Spišiak
Tell us something about the relationships in your sporting and private life with the main opponents you have met
I have had excellent relations with many walkers, including my main opponents. We participated in some training camps together and had great discussions during the championships. I really enjoyed the relationship with Jarred Tallent, Evan Dunfee, Yohann Diniz, Perseus Kalstrom, Havard Haukenes, Gregorz Sudol and other Polish, German, Hungarian, Ukrainian and many other walkers. It was also a pleasure to meet you during my sport career.
What was your best race and what was your worst race
The most beautiful, but not the easiest was Rio de Janeiro (perhaps the best was the 2015 Beijing World Championships).
The worst was certainly the Doha 2019 World Championships, but I have no doubt that the most difficult was Sapporo.
How does it feel when a doping accusation comes like it did to you; what did you do to positively resolve the case and how you were subsequently accepted by your opponents
It was very difficult.
When you are 100% sure that you haven’t done anything wrong, it is very frustrating and annoying.
But then I realised that I had to fight (similar like during the competition, but in this case I was obliged to win).
I had to defend my name.
That fight was very difficult, very expensive and also very long. But the results have been fantastic.
I have heard very nice reactions from the audience and also from my opponents, I am very grateful for that, it was very important for me.
What does a champion like you feel when he leaves the races forever
Pride, happiness, contentment ... and relief (enough ?)
Tell us something about your relationship with the judges
I think (and hope) that it has always been good and respectable. Their judgment was consistent and fair. I know there is always a feeling of injustice, but in general they did a good job.
Do you think 35km will be as successful as 50km in the future
They could have a good success (I hope so), but I think they can't replace the 50km.
35km are another event, much closer to 20km.
Your message to leave to the young walkers
Enjoy every day, enjoy every competition. But try to be patient and be purposeful.
Success in race walking doesn’t come easily and quickly.
Your message to leave to those who walked with you until now
If you still have energy to walk then for you race walking is still joy. I wish you great success, have fun with sports.
A message to leave to the judges
You are very important for our specialty.
As I know almost all of you, I know that you love our sport and that you still make decisions according to the best knowledge and conscience. Always stay at that level.
A message to leave to the organisers
Without you and your sacrificial work there would be no races and no walkers.
I am very grateful to you for every competition I have entered.
We are all aware of this.
His sporting palmares: click here