Jim Walmsley is one of the most recognisable names in global trail and ultra running. Born around 1990 and based in Flagstaff, Arizona, Walmsley first made waves in the trail running community through his audacious racing style at Western States Endurance Run, where his aggressive early pacing and willingness to push the limits redefined what was possible in 100-mile racing. He holds the Western States course record and has consistently been among the fastest ultra runners in North America for nearly a decade.
Walmsley's transition from road running to trails came during his time at the US Air Force Academy, where he competed in track and cross-country before discovering his true calling on mountain terrain. His natural speed combined with an exceptional engine for sustained climbing made him a formidable force at every distance from 50 km to 170 km. By the time the WMTRC 2023 was announced, Walmsley had already amassed victories at UTMB, multiple Western States podiums and a reputation as the athlete most likely to bring American trail running to the forefront of global competition.
What distinguishes Walmsley from many ultra runners is his pure speed. With a road marathon personal best well under 2:20, he brings a level of flat-ground pace that few mountain specialists can match. Yet he has repeatedly proven that this speed translates to technical alpine terrain, making him equally dangerous on the steep, rocky trails of the Innsbruck Nordkette and the high-altitude passes of the Stubai Valley.
His arrival at the WMTRC 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai was one of the most anticipated storylines of the championship. As one of the few truly global trail running superstars, Walmsley's presence elevated the prestige of the Trail Long discipline and drew international media attention to the historic first combined World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
At the WMTRC 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai, Walmsley competed in the Trail Long — an approximately 80 km course with 4,500 metres of elevation gain through some of the most demanding alpine terrain in the Tyrolean Alps. The route tested every aspect of an ultra runner's skill set: sustained climbs above 2,500 m altitude, technical single-track descents, exposed ridgelines and the mental challenge of racing for close to ten hours at world championship intensity.
Walmsley ran a characteristically aggressive race, pushing hard on the early climbs and establishing himself among the leaders from the first major ascent. His descending speed — always one of his greatest weapons — allowed him to gain time on technical sections where European mountain specialists typically hold an advantage. In the end, he crossed the finish line in silver medal position, earning a hard-fought second place against a field that included the world's best ultra trail runners.
His silver medal performance confirmed his status as one of the top long-distance trail runners on the planet and demonstrated that American athletes can compete at the very highest level on European alpine courses. The result also contributed to a strong showing for Team USA at the championships, alongside teammates like Allie McLaughlin in the women's events.
| Discipline | Placement | Time | Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trail Long | 2nd Place (Silver) | 8:54:32 | 80 km / 4,500 m D+ |
Jim Walmsley is from the United States and is based in Flagstaff, Arizona. Born around 1990, he was approximately 33 years old when he competed at the WMTRC 2023 in Innsbruck-Stubai. He originally hails from the Phoenix area and began his running career at the US Air Force Academy.
Walmsley earned the silver medal in the Trail Long discipline at the WMTRC 2023. The Trail Long covered approximately 80 km with 4,500 metres of elevation gain through the Tyrolean Alps. Full results for all WMTRC 2023 disciplines are available on the results page.
Walmsley's career highlights include winning UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc), holding the Western States 100 course record, multiple victories at major US ultra races and his silver medal at the WMTRC 2023. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American trail and ultra runners of all time.
Walmsley competed in the Trail Long, the longest of the five WMTRC 2023 disciplines alongside the Vertical Race, Mountain Classic, Trail Short and Stubai Ultratrail. The Trail Long was designed as the premier ultra-distance event of the championship. Detailed course information is available on the courses page.
Walmsley brings exceptional flat-ground speed to trail running, with a road marathon personal best well under 2:20. While European mountain specialists often excel on steep technical terrain, Walmsley compensates with raw pace on runnable sections and fast descending. This combination makes him competitive on any course profile, including the alpine trails of the WMTRC 2023.
Yes, the United States fielded a full team across multiple disciplines at the WMTRC 2023. Allie McLaughlin competed in the women's events, and several other American athletes raced in the Trail Short, Trail Long and Mountain Classic. Team USA was one of the stronger non-European delegations at the championship.
The Trail Long at the WMTRC 2023 covered approximately 80 km with 4,500 metres of positive elevation gain. The route traversed high-altitude alpine terrain in the Stubai Valley and surrounding mountains, featuring exposed ridgelines above 2,500 m, technical single-track descents and sustained climbs through the Tyrolean Alps.
Complete results for all five disciplines are available on the results page. Profiles of other athletes such as Hannes Namberger, Stian Angermund and Blandine L'Hirondel can be found on the athletes overview.