Some of the biggest names in the sport came together on Thursday (11) at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to mark the one-year countdown to the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship, a bold new global competition set to take place in Budapest from 11-13 September 2026.
Usain Bolt, who earlier this week was announced as the Ultimate Legend for the new season-finale global championship, graced the red carpet alongside Olympic champions Mondo Duplantis and Thea LaFond at the star-studded party hosted by World Athletics.
Alongside World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, leading figures from across the sports, media and political world attended the event, including internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit and Athlos; Hungarian Ambassador to Japan, Her Excellency Anna Aulner-Balint; Hungarian State Secretary for Sports Adam Schmidt; and Hungary's International Olympic Committee member and co-chair of the Ultimate Championship LOC Balazs Furjes.
&ldquo;I worked hard to be an ultimate legend for years, so I'm really excited to be a part of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship," said Bolt. "The first thing I thought when I heard about this event was how wonderful it would have been to compete at this championship had it been around when I was an athlete. It moves the sport in the right direction, so I'm hoping to help shine a light on it in my role as Ultimate Legend."
Duplantis, who last month was revealed as the Ultimate Star for the event, said: &ldquo;If I win at the Ultimate Championship, I&rsquo;ll have a title that Usain (Bolt) won&rsquo;t have, which is very rare and not many athletes can do, so I&rsquo;m super excited."
LaFond, who, like Duplantis, will be among the favourites for gold at the upcoming World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, said: &ldquo;I love a good one-and-done deal, I really do. I think it&rsquo;s fun, I think it puts a little bit more pressure on that one event and I think it&rsquo;s exciting for the crowd, for sure. I think one of the best things that has come from the Ultimate is the pay structure."
President Coe said: "Make no mistake: The Ultimate is the next major global flagship outdoor track and field championship in the calendar after Tokyo. The Ultimate Championship will be where the world&rsquo;s top-ranked track and field athletes compete head-to-head to decide who is truly the best on the planet. I, for one, am very excited."
Schmidt is also looking forward to welcoming the world's best athletes in Budapest. "The motto of this day is: the best," he said. "After the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Sebastian Coe said that the Budapest World Championships had been the best ever. More than one billion TV viewers, more than 400,000 fans in our state-of-the-art athletics stadium &ndash; these numbers speak for themselves. Exactly one year from today, the best of the best athletes will compete in Budapest. I do hope that we can recreate the magic again at the very first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship."
<h3>A new era for athletics</h3>
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will ensure every season culminates with a global championship of real meaning. Only the top-ranked athletes on the planet will earn the right to compete, representing their countries on the biggest stage for a share of the record US$10million prize pot &ndash; the largest in track and field history.
This compact and thrilling three-day competition will feature 28 disciplines in a fast-paced, made-for-TV format. With no country quotas or selection panels, performance alone secures a place, guaranteeing the ultimate head-to-head battles to decide who truly is the best in the world.
<h3>Designed for fans, media, and the future</h3>
As the natural complement to the World Championships, the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is built to deliver a global moment every year, keeping athletics firmly in the spotlight. It has been designed to maximise broadcast reach, ensuring fans worldwide are captivated by gripping, made-for-TV storytelling.
At its heart, the event will elevate the stories of athletes, giving them powerful new platforms to grow their profiles and connect with audiences. At the same time, it will act as an incubator for sustainable innovation in athletics while forging strong new commercial partnerships, building on the success of the World Championships Budapest 23.
In 12 months&rsquo; time, the eyes of the sporting world will return to the Hungarian capital, where the very best athletes on the planet will chase one goal: to be crowned the Ultimate champion.
For more information, visit <a href="%20https:/ultimateathleticschampionship.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ultimateathleticschampionship.com</a>

World Athletics Ultimate Championships

Some of the biggest names in the sport came together to mark the one-year countdown to the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Bolt and Duplantis star at World Athletics Ultimate Championship one-year countdown party

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt has been announced as the &lsquo;Ultimate Legend&rsquo;, as excitement continues to build ahead of the first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.&nbsp;
The Ultimate Championship &ndash; to be held for the first time from 11-13 September 2026 &ndash; will help to take the sport to another level, as Bolt did in the sprints during an incredible career that saw him break multiple world records, claim 19 senior global titles and provide countless iconic moments on the track.&nbsp;
In his role as the one and only Ultimate Legend, Bolt will collaborate with World Athletics in the promotion of the new global season-ending championship that will see the world&rsquo;s top-ranked track and field athletes compete head-to-head to decide who is truly the best on the planet.&nbsp;
Bolt&rsquo;s unveiling as the Ultimate Legend follows the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-ultimate-championship/2026/news/press-releases/mondo-duplantis-ultimate-championship-star" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcement last month of world pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis as the inaugural Ultimate Star</a>.&nbsp;
It marks the first time that Bolt has stepped into such an athletics role, as he uses his passion for and status within the sport to promote the new event to the world.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The idea behind the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is brilliant: the absolute best of the best facing off against each other &ndash; all the major global stars, big money, even bigger personalities, no excuses &ndash; to see who gets bragging rights as the Ultimate Champion. Let&rsquo;s just say I would have loved to be competing in this box-office championship,&rdquo; said Bolt.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m honoured to take on the role of Ultimate Legend to help spread the word, as athletics remains a huge part of my life. I saw our sport go through many changes during my time on the track and it&rsquo;s important that athletics continues to innovate. This new global championship will help to showcase and grow track and field and its incredible stars.&rdquo;&nbsp;
World champions and Olympic champions will clash with Wanda Diamond League winners and the year&rsquo;s best performing athletes during three intense sessions of action at the National Athletics Centre.&nbsp;
Twenty-six athletes have already automatically qualified as reigning individual Olympic champions and more will soon join the list, as winners at the upcoming World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 &ndash; which will be attended by Bolt &ndash; will also secure automatic qualification.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The title of Ultimate Legend is fitting for one of the true icons of our sport,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;Usain transcends athletics. He continues to elevate the profile of the sport and inspire athletes around the globe, proving what is possible &ndash; on and off the field of play. As we look forward &ndash; developing new ways to showcase the sport and discovering new stars &ndash; it is important to also look back and recognise the trailblazers who have paved the way and captured the imaginations of generations of athletics fans.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Hungary&rsquo;s Secretary of State for Sports Dr. &Aacute;d&aacute;m Schmidt said: &ldquo;Similar to other major international sporting events in Hungary, one of our main goals with hosting the Ultimate Championship is to ensure that by watching the fantastic competitions of the very best athletes live, as many of our compatriots as possible can gain experiences that will inspire them to commit to regular sports themselves.
&ldquo;It is a great pleasure and honour for us that the best of the best will visit us, not only on the track, but also beyond it. Usain Bolt is a special figure of the athletics family who can inspire young people all over the world. I am confident that with his help, the Ultimate Championship will be just as successful and popular as the 2023 World Championships in Budapest were.&rdquo;
Bolt will be promoting the Ultimate Championship &ndash; with the one-year-to-go milestone for the inaugural event on Thursday 11 September &ndash; at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. As a guest of World Athletics, Bolt is set to attend select evening sessions at the Japan National Stadium and make a special appearance during the championships being held from 13-21 September.&nbsp;
The Ultimate Championship has been created to ensure that every athletics season culminates with a major global championship with real meaning for athletes, fans, media and broadcasters.  &nbsp;
It is the next major global flagship outdoor track and field championship in the calendar after the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.&nbsp;
World Athletics&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Bolt will collaborate with World Athletics in the promotion of the new global season-ending championship

Bolt revealed as Ultimate Legend

World pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis has been announced as the inaugural Ultimate Star, with just over one year to go to the first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
The new role will see&nbsp;Duplantis &ndash; who set his latest world record of 6.29m in Budapest on Tuesday &ndash; as one of a select number of key collaborators pursuing their cultural passions outside of athletics in music, fashion, art, on-screen, who will promote the new global season-ending championship.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship is a groundbreaking global contest where the world&rsquo;s top-ranked track and field athletes compete head-to-head to decide who is truly the best on the planet. Staged every two years, the event will provide a spectacular conclusion to the summer athletics season, in the years where there is no World Athletics Championships.
Pitting world champions against Olympic champions against Wanda Diamond League winners against the year&rsquo;s best performing athletes, the world&rsquo;s greatest will settle the debate across three intense sessions of action from 11-13 September 2026.
Twenty-six athletes have already automatically qualified as reigning individual Olympic champions and Duplantis is among them. The Swedish pole vault superstar secured his second successive Olympic crown in Paris, achieving the ninth of his now 13 world record-breaking performances with a 6.25m clearance.
The 25-year-old has won every global men&rsquo;s pole vault title on offer since earning his first Olympic gold in Tokyo four years ago. He has won three world indoor titles and two world titles outdoors &ndash; the most recent of those claimed in Budapest.
As he prepares to take his star status back to Budapest in 2026, Duplantis will first want to add another title to his sensational CV when he competes at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 next month.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an honour to be named the first Ultimate Star for the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship,&rdquo; said Duplantis.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re always looking for new ways to make sure that the spotlight shines on athletics and the Ultimate will light up Budapest. I have great memories of winning world gold two years ago and remember the incredible atmosphere inside the stadium that night. It would be a dream to break the world record in front of a packed crowd next year.
&ldquo;This event is set to showcase our sport like never before and I can&rsquo;t wait to be a part of it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: &ldquo;Mondo is one of the megastars of our sport &ndash; known for his remarkable talents both on and off the field of play. Whether he is dazzling us with his pole vault prowess or motivating us with his music, Mondo commands centre stage and we&rsquo;re delighted to announce him as our inaugural Ultimate Star.
&ldquo;We have created this must-see new event to ensure every athletics season culminates with a major global championship with real meaning for the athletes, fans, media, and broadcasters. The stakes are high &ndash; every session will be packed with finals, and a record-setting prize pot is up for grabs. We&rsquo;re ready to see Mondo and his fellow global greats proudly represent their countries and put on a show.&rdquo;

World pole vault record-holder Mondo Duplantis has been announced as the inaugural Ultimate Star, with just over one year to go to the first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

Duplantis unveiled as inaugural Ultimate Star

World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners battle to be crowned the Ultimate Champion

11-13 SEPTEMBER 2026

SPARKS WILL FLY

<h2 style="text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">FOLLOW THE STAR JOURNEY TO BUDAPEST</h2>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="WAUC_Brandfilm_Master_4k_FINAL" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1109584189?autoplay=1&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479&amp;loop=1" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/sweden/armand-duplantis-14679502" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; SWE</a>

MONDO DUPLANTIS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/tara-davis-woodhall-14596561" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; USA</a>

TARA DAVIS-WOODHALL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/grant-holloway-14516985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">110M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

GRANT HOLLOWAY

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ukraine/yaroslava-mahuchikh-14739628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; UKR</a>

YAROSLAVA MAHUCHIKH

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/norway/jakob-ingebrigtsen-14653717" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; NOR</a>

JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/masai-russell-14659011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

MASAI RUSSELL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/canada/ethan-katzberg-14809348" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HAMMER THROW &bull; CAN</a>

ETHAN KATZBERG

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/saint-lucia/julien-alfred-14646562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; LCA</a>

JULIEN ALFRED

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/greece/miltiadis-tentoglou-14669734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; GRE</a>

MILTIADIS TENTOGLOU

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/keely-hodgkinson-14642894" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; GBR</a>

KEELY HODGKINSON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/rai-benjamin-14574865" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

RAI BENJAMIN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-14624749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/nina-kennedy-14407592" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; AUS</a>

NINA KENNEDY

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/noah-lyles-14536762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; USA</a>

NOAH LYLES

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/faith-kipyegon-14413305" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; KEN</a>

FAITH KIPYEGON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/japan/haruka-kitaguchi-14649131" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; JPN</a>

HARUKA KITAGUCHI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/commonwealth-of-dominica/thea-lafond-14416826" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRIPLE JUMP &bull; DMA</a>

THEA LAFOND

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/new-zealand/hamish-kerr-14633982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; NZL</a>

HAMISH KERR

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/letsile-tebogo-14883897" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; BOT</a>

LETSILE TEBOGO

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/dominican-republic/marileidy-paulino-14749613" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; DOM</a>

MARILEIDY PAULINO

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cole-hocker-14905834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; USA</a>

COLE HOCKER

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/gabrielle-thomas-14733520" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; USA</a>

GABRIELLE THOMAS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/emmanuel-wanyonyi-14974928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; KEN</a>

EMMANUEL WANYONYI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/beatrice-chebet-14749924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; KEN</a>

BEATRICE CHEBET

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/pakistan/arshad-nadeem-14698105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; PAK</a>

ARSHAD NADEEM

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/quincy-hall-14597236" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; USA</a>

QUINCY HALL

Qualified by winning in Paris

Olympic champions

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-14624749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; USA</a>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/italy/mattia-furlani-14905216" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LONG JUMP &bull; ITA</a>

MATTIA FURLANI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/kenya/lilian-odira-14758184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800M &bull; KEN</a>

LILIAN ODIRA

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/noah-lyles-14536762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200M &bull; USA</a>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/switzerland/ditaji-kambundji-14739461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M HURDLES &bull; SUI</a>

DITAJI KAMBUNDJI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/botswana/busang-collen-kebinatshipi-14935809" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M &bull; BOT</a>

COLLEN KEBINATSHIPI

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/australia/nicola-olyslagers-14455361" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HIGH JUMP &bull; AUS</a>

NICOLA OLYSLAGERS

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/jamaica/oblique-seville-14737998" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &bull; JAM</a>

OBLIQUE SEVILLE

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/melissa-jefferson-wooden-14756997" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100M &amp; 200M &bull; USA</a>

MELISSA JEFFERSON-WOODEN

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cole-hocker-14905834" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5000M &bull; USA</a>

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/katie-moon-14373744" target="_blank" rel="noopener">POLE VAULT &bull; USA</a>

KATIE MOON

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/portugal/isaac-nader-14756630" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1500M &bull; POR</a>

ISAAC NADER

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/netherlands/femke-bol-14707010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">400M HURDLES &bull; NED</a>

FEMKE BOL

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/cordell-tinch-14719972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">110M HURDLES &bull; USA</a>

CORDELL TINCH

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/cuba/leyanis-perez-hernandez-14828679" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRIPLE JUMP &bull; CUB</a>

LEYANIS PEREZ HERNANDEZ

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/trinidad-and-tobago/keshorn-walcott-14376122" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; TTO</a>

KESHORN WALCOTT

<a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ecuador/juleisy-angulo-14718123" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAVELIN THROW &bull; ECU</a>

JULEISY ANGULO

Qualified by winning in Tokyo

World champions

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