An entirely new-look podium awaits at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 25 in the men’s 400m.

In Glasgow last year, Alexander Doom clocked a Belgian indoor record of 45.25 to edge out Norway’s Karsten Warholm, in an indoor foray away from the hurdles, and Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald.

Two of that trio won’t be making the trip to China. Doom has succumbed to the adductor injury which hampered him outdoors last season and he continues to struggle running bends in particular. He opted to miss the indoor season altogether in order to be fully fit for the summer.

Warholm, meanwhile, has been pursuing more novel ventures, recently filmed and photographed hurdling on a frozen lake in his native Norway.

McDonald is the sole survivor from the 2024 edition. He has contested just one indoor race this year, clocking 46.93, but that’s faster than the 47.08 performance he carried into last year’s championships, eventually emerging with a 45.65 PB and bronze medal.

The benchmark appears to be USA’s Chris Bailey, the quickest man in the world this year with a best of 44.70 having come through what looked like a combative US Indoors to make the team for Nanjing.

The 24-year-old made the individual final at the Paris Olympics, finishing that in sixth before going on to seal 4x400m gold.

The USA will have aspirations for a sweep of the medals over two laps of the track with Jacory Patterson, who began his athletics career as a long jumper, and Brian Faust, who earned a wildcard pick for his performances in the World Athletics Indoor Tour.

Among those hoping to break up the US hegemony are Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel, the only other sub-45 runner in the field other than Bailey this season.

He is the first man from Africa to break that mark indoors and has achieved it twice already in 2025. The 21-year-old’s duel with Bailey promises to be a formidable one.

Christopher Morales Williams is another to watch. He’s the fourth-fastest entrant based on season’s bests, but the 20-year-old is the fastest performer of all time indoors, thanks to his 44.49 clocking last year. He has competed three times this season and has won all of his races.

Of the European challengers, Attila Molnar looks the strongest candidate having set a world lead 45.08 earlier this season before Bailey and Nathanial both dipped beneath it. The Hungarian also picked up a first major title with his recent gold at the European Indoor Championships.

Other medal hopefuls from the continent include France’s Jimy Soudril, Crezh Matej Krsek and Markel Fernandez of Spain. And keep an eye out for Chinese youngster Ailixier Wumaier, who last year broke the senior indoor Chinese record with 45.79, aged just 17 at the time.

Matt Majendie for World Athletics

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