After running a world record of 1:59:30 in London, Sabastian Sawe has confirmed that he will return to the BMW Berlin Marathon to defend his title at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on 27 September.
With that performance in London last month, the Kenyan 31-year-old became the first athlete to officially break two hours for the marathon &ndash; taking 65 seconds off the previous world record set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023 and surpassing Eliud Kipchoge&rsquo;s 1:59:41 exhibition performance from 2019.
It was Sawe&rsquo;s first race since winning the Berlin Marathon in September in 2:02:16 &ndash; which was then the second-fastest marathon of his career behind the 2:02:05 he ran in Valencia in 2024.
&ldquo;I am very happy to return to the BMW Berlin Marathon this year and to defend my title,&rdquo; Sawe told event organisers.
&ldquo;Many people may be wondering what my goals are this time. After coming off my win in London and sub-2 performance, I can only say that, like always, I plan to prepare myself to the best of my ability and to come to Berlin to honour this great event and organisation which has invited me, and to run as well and fast as possible. Then, on the day, we will see what will happen.&rdquo;
Berlin is one of the fastest marathons in the world &ndash; eight consecutive men&rsquo;s world records were set there between 2003 and 2022. The course record is Kipchoge&rsquo;s 2:01:09, run in 2022.
Sawe is unbeaten in his marathon career so far. The 2:02:05 he ran to win in Valencia in 2024 came on his marathon debut and he followed it with 2:02:27 to win in London the following April, 2:02:16 to win in Berlin and then 1:59:30 to retain his title in London. On a landmark day for marathon running, Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41 &ndash; the second-fastest time in history and the fastest marathon debut ever &ndash; and Jacob Kiplimo joined them in finishing inside the previous world record, placing third in 2:00:28. Tigst Assefa also successfully defended her title, improving her own women-only world record to 2:15:41.

Sabastian Sawe has confirmed that he will return to the BMW Berlin Marathon to defend his title at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race

World record-holder Sawe to defend Berlin Marathon crown

Brian Pintado, Hayato Katsuki and Alegna Gonz&aacute;lez headline the Grande Pr&eacute;mio Internacional de Rio Maior em Marcha &ndash; a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Rio Maior, Portugal, on Saturday (16).
On top of that, Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m is set to race the half marathon twice in eight days following the global medallist&rsquo;s 12th place at the Poděbrady Gold Tour race last week.
Also heading south from the Czechia spa town is Glenda Morej&oacute;n. Ecuador&rsquo;s Olympic marathon mixed relay silver medallist recorded a modest 1:37:54 for 11th place in Poděbrady, but it was her first race of the year. She will surely expect to build on that.
Just as intriguing is the entry from her teammate Pintado.
The man who reigned supreme at the Paris Olympics in the 20km lined up in Poděbrady for the park course but barely completed a 1km lap before stepping to one side.
His social media post says he is in week 11 of 127 towards the next Olympics in Los Angeles following hip surgery last year, so maybe this is another tentative toe in competitive waters as he bids to regain form.
By contrast, Katsuki is in excellent shape.
The Japanese athlete, who claimed world 35km bronze in Tokyo and won the marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Bras&iacute;lia last month, sits eighth on the world all-time list following his 1:22:06 at his country&rsquo;s half marathon championships in February.
Even then, it was good only for sixth in a race that brought an inaugural world record for Toshikazu Yamanishi &ndash; 1:20:34.
But Katsuki&rsquo;s mark is nearly two minutes better than anyone else&rsquo;s at Rio Maior.
Next best is Karlstr&ouml;m, who race walked 1:24:58 at the Dudinska 50 in March, a time that was good enough to win. The popular Swede is a keen racer, but he was a tired finisher in Poděbrady.
He has hands full to beat Katsuki, and maybe C&eacute;sar Rodr&iacute;guez, who has raced sparingly since he set a Peruvian 20km record of 1:18:23 in La Coru&ntilde;a two years ago but clearly has the pedigree needed to go with the leaders.
Like Pintado, Mexico&rsquo;s Noel Chama was a non-finisher in Poděbrady but he went into the race having clocked 1:27:28 to win at the USATF Championships in January.
Uzbekistan&rsquo;s Rasulbek Dilmurodov is also one to watch. He recorded 1:25:31 to get bronze at the Asian Championships in March and a place on the podium in Portugal likewise beckons.
The women&rsquo;s race sees a half marathon debut for Alegna Gonz&aacute;lez.
The Mexican world 20km silver medallist set an area record of 1:26:06 in Tokyo and on paper is head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the field.
Viviane Lyra race walked 1:41:24 at the Gold Tour event in Taicang at the beginning of March and was fifth, in 3:34:53, on home soil for the full marathon at the World Race Walking Team Championships.
Antigoni Ntrismpioti also lines up for her first race of the year. The Greek athlete won double gold at the European Championships in 2022, as well as bronze at the 2023 World Championships, and celebrated her 42nd birthday in March. She knows all about racing the best in Tour events.
A fifth Poděbrady racer is also keen to give it a second shot in the same week: Valeria Ortu&ntilde;o. The Mexican&rsquo;s 1:41:58 suggests the battle for third place behind Gonz&aacute;lez and Morej&oacute;n should be competitive.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

Brian Pintado, Hayato Katsuki and Alegna González headline the Grande Prémio Internacional de Rio Maior em Marcha

Pintado, Katsuki and González lead fields for Rio Maior

World U20 silver medallists Gout Gout and Izobelle Louison-Roe have been named on Australia&rsquo;s team for the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 on 5-9 August.
With 75 athletes selected, it is set to be&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s biggest team in the history of the global U20 event.
Gout secured 200m silver in Lima in 2024 and has gone on to become a world U20 record-breaker in the discipline, clocking 19.67 in Sydney in April.
The 18-year-old is entered for the 200m and the 4x400m in Oregon.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really excited to get out there at World Athletics U20s in Eugene, Oregon,&rdquo; Gout told Australian Athletics.
&ldquo;I know it&rsquo;s a great stadium and place to run fast, and I feel confident I&rsquo;ll be ready to step up and make Australia proud. I&rsquo;ll be competing in the 200m but I&rsquo;m also excited to join in the 4x400m on the last day.&rdquo;
Louison-Roe&nbsp;also claimed silver in Lima, in the high jump. The 18-year-old, who cleared a PB of 1.95m in January and matched that mark in March, is entered for both the high jump and the triple jump and will decide which event she will contest closer to the competition.
Mason McGroder claimed long jump bronze in Lima and the 17-year-old also returns to the global stage.
Isaac Beacroft is another major medallist on the team. The 18-year-old won the U20 10km race walk at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in 2024 and finished second in this year&rsquo;s event in Bras&iacute;lia. He also has experience of competing at the World U20 Championships as he finished fourth in the 10,000m race walk in Lima two years ago. In Oregon he will contest the 5000m race walk.
<h3>Australian team for Oregon:</h3>
WOMEN 100m:&nbsp;Zara Hagan, Maya Taber 200m: Zara Hagan, Amaya Mearns 400m: Alice Hill, Shari Hurdman 800m: Ivy Boothroyd,&nbsp;Emma Fryga 1500m: Mia Gray, Milla Roberts 3000m: Imogen Baker, Eliza Lawton 5000m: Imogen Baker, Libby Mantay 3000m steeplechase: Helena Butler, Tessa Ebert 100m hurdles: Jamison Harding, Tammin Lampret 400m hurdles: Shakira Harding, Maiya Hewitt 5000m race walk: Sophie Polkinghorne, Zoe Woods High jump: Izobelle Louison-Roe Pole vault: Jamison Harding, Rangi Khushnoor Long jump: Geena Davy Triple jump: Izobelle Louison-Roe Shot put: Manaia Coulter, Lauren Kelly Discus: Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell, Chelsy Wayne Heptathlon: Bailey Van Den Broek, Isabella Wing 4x100m: Grace Crowe,&nbsp;Mackenzie Estlick, Zara Hagan, Amaya Mearns, Leah O&rsquo;Brien, Thewbelle Philp,&nbsp;Emilia Reed,&nbsp;Maya Taber 4x400m: Samara Bond,&nbsp; Alice Hill, Shari Hurdman, Naomi Krajancic, Xanthee Watts, Charlotte McAuliffe
MEN 100m:&nbsp;Uwezo Lubenda, Zavier Peacock 200m: Gout Gout, Zavier Peacock&nbsp; 400m: Chase Grant, Seth Kennedy 800m:&nbsp;Harry Halleen, Daniel Williams 1500m: Alexander Cameron-Smith, Kieran Shepherd 3000m: Charles Barrett, Matthew McLachlan 5000m: Charles Barrett, Lucas Chis 3000m steeplechase: Jonathan Neethling 110m hurdles: Oliver Facer, Harrison Purcell 400m hurdles: Will Tait, Ethan Williams 5000m race walk: Isaac Beacroft, Owen Toyne Long jump: Mason McGroder, Luke Vrataric Triple jump: Lian Anagnostopoulos, Daniel Okerenyang Discus: Elijah Wilson Hammer: Connor Hopgood, Xavier Leauma Decathlon: Xavier Davie, Wyatt Hill 4x100m: Paul Ehioghae, Kelechi Ekwomadu, Dylan Hall, Josiah John, Hugh Kabengele, Uwezo Lubenda, Zavier Peacock 4x400m: Gout Gout, Chase Grant, Fred Hamblin, Seth Kennedy, Dashiell Muir, Dylan Ruming, Terrell Thorne

World Athletics U20 Championships

Gout Gout and Izobelle Louison-Roe have been named on Australia’s team for the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 on 5-9 August.

World U20 medallists Gout and Louison-Roe lead Australian team for Oregon

When war broke out in South Sudan in 2011, seven-year-old Kun Waar Liem fled to the Dadaab Refugee Camp in northeastern Kenya while his parents escaped to Ethiopia. He has not seen them since.
"We were in different places then, and survival came first. So we split. My parents and siblings went to Ethiopia. My elder sister and I came to Kenya."
He didn't know it yet, but years later, the refugee camp that once offered safety also became the starting block to his athletics career.
Kun, a 200m runner, is among the five athletes who will represent the Athlete Refugee Team (ART), an initiative of World Athletics, at the African Championships in Accra, Ghana, from 12-17 May.
His teammate, Solomon Okeny, crossed over to Kenya in 2010 with his mother and five siblings to Kakuma Refugee Camp. He initially started with football, playing for Kakuma United, but he got into running by chance.
"I saw a race where winners got water and glucose,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;In Kakuma&rsquo;s heat, that was enough. I joined and that&rsquo;s how I discovered I could run."
The duo trains in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, under Duncan Ayiemba, who also coaches Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala.
"He (Omanyala) mentors us a lot on how to progress in sprinting," says Kun. "When we are in training, we just try to catch up with him, and that's how we gain."
Okeny, who is a staunch fan of 400m world record-holder Wayde Van Niekerk, supports his sisters in Kakuma, by paying their school fees through his allowances and by teaching yoga, a skill he has learned over time.
"I left school to take care of my sisters,&rdquo; says Okeny. &ldquo;When free education ended in Kakuma and fees were introduced, I worried they might be pushed into early marriage. So I chose to lift them up through education. I'll go back to school this year."
While the sprinters train in Nairobi, the middle and long-distance teams are based in Kaptagat, approximately 300 kilometres northwest of Kenya's capital. The team is trained by 2007 world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei.
Like Kun and Okeny, Abdifatah Aden Hassan is preparing for his first major race outside Kenya, but the 1500m specialist is still unsure of the whereabouts of his parents. Hassan fled his home country, Ethiopia, in 2009, and he thinks his parents are still there.
"When the war started, people scattered. I went with the nearest relatives I could find, and we ended up in Dadaab Refugee Camp. I&rsquo;ve been searching for my parents ever since, but I haven&rsquo;t been successful yet."
He found his sister in Dadaab and grew up in the refugee camp. Hassan&rsquo;s talent was spotted through the IOC Refugee Athlete Scholarship programme and the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation.
"We are refugees by name, not by choice,&rdquo; says Hassan. &ldquo;Let's live like others and work towards our goals; my dream for Accra is to be the best version of myself."
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/64f5c2e03e15ad537cf367a3.jpg" alt="Perina Lokure Nakang at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23" />
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Perina Lokure Nakang at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (&copy; Getty Images)
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For Lokoro Dario (men's 5000m) and Perina Nakang (women's 800m), the African Championships won't be their first major international outing. South Sudan's Dario competed at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24 and is hoping for a better outing in Ghana.
"I ran the 3000m in Peru, but I will be competing in the 5000m in Ghana,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I ran 16:13 in the Athletics Kenya trials, and my target now is to lower it."
Nakang, also a native of South Sudan, remembers how her aunt grabbed her in the middle of one night in 2010 after the war broke out. They fled to Kakuma and were only reunited with her mother six years later.
She is the most experienced in the group, having competed in two World Athletics Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is now ready to make her continental debut.
"The training has been going well,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I am just fine-tuning a few things. It helps to have a world champion as a coach, and I am hoping to lower my personal best in Accra."
Susan Nakiro is also part of the team in Kaptagat, but an injury ruled her out of the African Championships, which has only deepened her resolve to fight through another challenge in life.
In 2017, her parents left Nakiro, who is the eldest, and her five siblings at their home in Lauru, South Sudan, to work at a nearby mining site when war broke out.
"When the gunshots went off, it was scary, and I didn't know what was going on. I gathered my siblings, and I followed the fleeing villagers. The first few nights, we slept in the forest until we reached what I came to know as Kakuma Refugee Camp."
She found her aunt in Kakuma, but the harsh living conditions there meant that she had to fend for her siblings, which practically made her the head of the family at 14 years old.
In 2025, she was picked to join the group after she emerged second in the 200m, before she was later advised to switch to 1500m.
Her siblings are still in Kakuma, but she can now pay for their rent and food with the allowances she gets while in camp.
As they prepare to line up in Accra, the members of the Athlete Refugee Team do so with different stories, different targets and different distances to cover. But each arrives with the same purpose: to make the most of an opportunity earned through talent, resilience and the belief that their circumstances do not define the limits of their ambitions.
Martin Moses for World Athletics

When war broke out in South Sudan in 2011, seven-year-old Kun Waar Liem fled to the Dadaab Refugee Camp in northeastern Kenya

Five members of Athlete Refugee Team to compete at African Championships

Philemon Kiriago and Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga claimed victories in the long-distance races at Transvulcania on Saturday (9), leading a sweep for Kenyan athletes across the four races held during the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup weekend on La Palma where all four winners also broke course records.
Kiriago won the men&rsquo;s long-distance race in 2:07:43 after a dramatic battle over the closing stages with France&rsquo;s Anthony Felber, who finished just four seconds behind in 2:07:47. Richard Omaya Atuya and Sweden&rsquo;s Linus Hulteg&aring;rd shared third place in 2:08:15 after crossing the line together.
Gitonga was more dominant in the women&rsquo;s race, taking control on the long climb before extending her advantage on the descent to win in a course record of 2:22:50. Fellow Kenyan Joyce Muthoni Njeru finished second in 2:25:39, with Great Britain&rsquo;s Kirsty Skye Dickson taking third in 2:33:21.
The long-distance race, the first in that discipline on this year&rsquo;s WMRA World Cup circuit, covered 25 kilometres with more than 2100 metres of ascent on the volcanic terrain of La Palma in the Canary Islands. Starting from the Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, runners tackled the demanding Ruta de los Volcanes route before finishing at Refugio de El Pilar.
In the men&rsquo;s race, the Kenyan Run2gether On Trail trio of Atuya, Kiriago and Ephantus Mwangi Njeri quickly moved to the front and remained together through the early stages. Atuya gradually opened a gap on the long climb and reached the high point at Las Deseadas more than two minutes ahead of Kiriago and Njeri.
But the race changed dramatically on the descent. Kiriago, the 2025 world mountain running champion, steadily reeled in his teammate before moving into the lead on the final downhill section. Felber also closed rapidly in the closing kilometres, pushing Kiriago all the way to the finish before the Kenyan prevailed by four seconds.
Atuya held on for third after matching Hulteg&aring;rd stride for stride on the run-in, while Njeri was forced to withdraw following a fall on the descent.
Gitonga&rsquo;s victory was built on the climb. After establishing an early lead, she steadily increased her advantage over Njeru and Dickson through the ascent to Las Deseadas, reaching the summit around three minutes clear.
The Kenyan maintained her momentum over the descent to seal an emphatic victory and underline her growing status on the World Cup circuit. Njeru held on for second, while Dickson secured another podium finish after placing runner-up in the uphill race earlier in the weekend.
Two days prior, Kiriago and Gitonga had both secured podium finishes in the uphill races as compatriots Atuya and Njeru claimed victories in record-breaking performances.
A high-calibre elite field took to the start line in the Port of Tazacorte on Thursday (7) for a 7.3km course demanding 1200m of vertical ascent.
The opening kilometres offered a steep start as athletes wound their way along zigzags overlooking the sea, through verdant terrain along the GR131 long-distance hiking trail in the warm evening sunshine. There was some brief respite in the form of a gentle road section, but the course's character shifted markedly as the field progressed beyond the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian House at 624 metres. Beyond those landmarks, the route became considerably more hostile &ndash; rocky underfoot and unrelentingly steep &ndash; while descending cloud cover brought cooler temperatures and added a further dimension of difficulty.
The leading contenders set off at a furious pace to take advantage of the brief stretch of flat road before the climb began. The elite field started at one-minute intervals in a time trial format, adding to the drama at the finish line, where conditions continued to deteriorate as the race went on.
Dickson (55:37) and USA&rsquo;s Tyler McCandless (50:09) set the early marks to beat in the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s races respectively, but they had a nail-biting wait to see if they could hang on to their positions.
Kiriago and Atuya have had many close battles in World Cup uphill races, and this one was no different. Kiriago set off last, and the chase was on. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri took a chunk off McCandless&rsquo;s lead, finishing in 47:39, but Atuya then reached the summit in a record time of 45:01.
Only Kiriago and Sweden&rsquo;s Martin Nilsson had the chance to beat him, but Kiriago fell short for once, settling for second place in 47:33. Anthony Felber of France was fourth in 48:20 and Nilsson was fifth in 48:46.
In the women&rsquo;s race, it looked as though Dickson might hang on as Gitonga reached the finish line in 58:00. But Muthoni Njeru and her compatriot Philaries Jeruto Kisang remained out on the course and Muthoni Njeru &ndash; who won in Changping &ndash; showed strong form again and took the win in a record 55:02.
Dickson held on to second place ahead of Gitonga, while Italy&rsquo;s Benedetta was fourth in 58:30 and Spain&rsquo;s Moana Lilly Kehres fifth in 58:35. Kisang did not finish.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

Richard Omaya Atuya and Joyce Muthoni Njeru secured a Kenyan double at the Transvulcania uphill, the fourth stage of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup

Kiriago and Gitonga lead Kenyan sweep at Transvulcania

Peru&rsquo;s Kimberly Garc&iacute;a and Italy&rsquo;s Francesco Fortunato produced masterclasses to win the half marathons at the Poděbrady Walking &ndash;&nbsp;a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting &ndash; in Poděbrady, Czechia, on Friday (8).&nbsp;
In fact, double 2022 world champion Garc&iacute;a was just five seconds away from posting the best-ever time for the new distance. Had she encountered any opposition from 9km on, the mark set in March by China&rsquo;s Jiang Yunyan &ndash; 1:31:39 &ndash; would likely be history.
Even so, 1:31:44 represents a return to top form for Garc&iacute;a, as well as a South American record.
The Peruvian kept up a relentless pace to leave her main rivals Antonella Palmisano and Paula Torres in her wake. In fairness to Olympic champion Palmisano, it was her first major race of the year and she did well to record 1:32:21, an Italian record.
But for Ecuador&rsquo;s world 35km bronze medallist Torres, the day ended in disappointment. After coasting to marathon victory at the World Race Walking Team Championships in April, she was off the pace by halfway.
In fact, Torres kept going backwards before picking up a time penalty with a lap to go. She ruefully unlaced her shoes to call it a day in the penalty zone.
Just after 9km, Garc&iacute;a put the hammer down to open up a gap first on Palmisano, and then Torres. Garc&iacute;a reached the 10-kilometre mark in 43:20 with Torres seven seconds in arrears and Palmisano five seconds behind that &ndash; a gap that just kept on growing.
By 17km, the race for first place was over. Garc&iacute;a had 44 seconds over Palmisano, and 2:32 on Spain's Lucia Redondo.
Redondo&rsquo;s excellent 1:34:22 PB secured the 22-year-old third place. But perhaps the biggest surprise was Lauren Harris in fourth place &ndash; she set a US record of 1:36:04, a giant 3:24 off her PB.
France&rsquo;s Ana Delahaie was fifth and there was hometown success for Ema Klimentova who was sixth in a PB of 1:36:59. There were PBs as well as national records all the way to 18th place.
The men's race was nearly a repeat of the World Race Walking Team Championships in Bras&iacute;lia as Fortunato clocked an inaugural European record of 1:23:00 to beat Brazil&rsquo;s world 20km champion Caio Bonfim (1:23:40). Only Ethiopia&rsquo;s Misgana Wakuma &ndash; runner-up in Bras&iacute;lia &ndash; was missing.
This time, former Poděbrady winner Christopher Linke completed the top three in 1:23:45.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69fe45e6737afeeace2ca29e.JPG" alt="Francesco Fortunato in Poděbrady" />
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Francesco Fortunato in Poděbrady (&copy; Czech Athletic Federation <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Ondřej Plech&aacute;ček)
Fortunato also enjoyed a last lap of splendid isolation. That was because David Hurtado got ushered into the penalty zone barely a kilometre from home.
Hurtado &ndash; marathon runner-up in Bras&iacute;lia &ndash; was the Italian&rsquo;s last challenger for victory, one Fortunato previously achieved in 2023.
In the battle for fourth place, Italy&rsquo;s Andrea Cosi edged 2017 world champion Eider Arevalo on the line, both athletes clocking 1:23:59.
The major early eye-opener was Brian Pintado stepping off the course little more than a lap in. The Olympic champion is working his way back to full fitness following hip surgery but clearly has a way to go. Bonfim also appeared to be struggling, but appearances were deceiving.
Cosi was leading at 10km, passed in 40:37, with the chasers starting to splinter.&nbsp;But Bonfim&rsquo;s internal metronome was working overtime as he ticked off laps to make his way back to the leaders, with then only six in touch.&nbsp;
At 17km, it was Fortunato&rsquo;s turn to make a bid for home. Only Hurtado could live with the pace as Bonfim dug in yet again to leave Cosi straining in his wake.
That extra effort cost Hurtado. With a lap to go, he was ushered into the penalty zone, his race effectively over.
That was that as far as the places were concerned.&nbsp;
Aur&eacute;lien Quinion was just behind Cosi and Arevalo, clocking 1:24:00 for sixth place. Leo Kopp was seventh in 1:24:27, Declan Tingay eighth in 1:24:49 and Ivan Lopez ninth in 1:25:05. A third previous Poděbrady winner, Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m, was a tired 10th in 1:25:31.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-race-walking-tour/calendar-results/7228658/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
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Peru’s Kimberly García and Italy’s Francesco Fortunato produced masterclasses to win the half marathons at the Poděbrady Walking 

García and Fortunato set area records to win in Poděbrady

At first, all you can make out is a blur of six figures getting into sprinting motion far down the light brown cinder track. A spectator in a blue baseball cap temporarily obscures the view. Then you get a nine-second glimpse of the sprinter in lane four pulling clear majestically &ndash; before another cap obscures any sight of Tommie Smith crossing the finish line into track and field history.
The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHkvb2v8sn0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grainy 60-year-old cine-film clip available on YouTube</a> shows more of the San Jose State star jogging gracefully back up his home college track than it does of him becoming the first man to break 20 seconds for both the 200m and 220 yards.
At least we can still get a glimpse of this long-forgotten, long-buried piece of athletics antiquity &ndash; and of the breathtaking grace of the man whose super-smooth sprinting style was once described as &ldquo;like pouring oil on to glass&rdquo;.
Tommie Smith is much more than the legend renowned for the iconic black-gloved, head-bowed protest for human rights that he and his US and San Jose State teammate John Carlos so courageously struck on the medal podium after winning gold and bronze respectively in the men&rsquo;s 200m at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69fc84047c6efb03ccadeddd.jpg" alt="Tommie Smith wins the 1968 Olympic 200m title" />
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Tommie Smith wins the 1968 Olympic 200m title (&copy; AFP / Getty Images)
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At one time, the childhood sharecropper from East Texas held 11 world records simultaneously. That evening at San Jose State, on 7 May 1966, Smith was clocked on a straight track at 19.5 by timekeepers stationed at both 200m and 220 yards &ndash; just 1.17m beyond.
In doing so, the 22-year-old sociology student took a half-second chunk off the 20.0 world record set by Dave Sime in 1956 (in a race which included Smith&rsquo;s older brother, George), and equalled by Frank Budd, another compatriot, in 1962 &ndash; and by Smith himself at San Jose in 1966 (after which he set off on a 12-hour civil rights march to San Francisco).
The barrier-breaking feat &ndash; two years before Smith&rsquo;s 19.8 200m curve world record in the Olympic final &ndash; was hailed by Track and Field News as &ldquo;the greatest performance in the history of track and field &ndash; greater than Randy Matson&rsquo;s 21.52m shot put and Ron Clarke&rsquo;s 27:39.4 10,000m, according to the Portuguese Scoring Tables.&rdquo;
The timekeepers clocked Smith at 200m in 19.4, 19.5 and 19.6 and at 220 yards in 19.5, 19.5 and 19.6. The rules in place stipulated that if two or more times were identical then that would be the official one, but if all three were different then the middle one would be recorded.
&ldquo;I thought there was a good chance for a record, but it was my third race of the day and I hadn&rsquo;t concentrated on it or thought about it a lot,&rdquo; said Smith, who finished half a second clear of runner-up Wayne Herman in near-perfect conditions, assisted by a following wind of 1.84 metres per second.
Earlier in the all-comers meet, Smith had run a scorching 9.2 4x110 yards relay leg and a wind-assisted 9.3 for 100 yards.
Nordy Jensen, in his meticulous account for Track and Field News, wrote of Smith &ldquo;slipping into his fluid &lsquo;Tommie-jet&rsquo; gear.&rdquo; &ldquo;Many coaches and observers feel that he has a special gear that no other athletes have,&rdquo; he added.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t consciously feel a change of gear,&rdquo; Smith mused: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s just that I have extra speed at the end. My stride at the end of the race is longer than at the start, and this makes a difference.&rdquo;
At 1.90m (6ft 3in) and 78kg (173lb), Smith was on the large side for a sprinter. He perfected a smooth, high-stepping, long-striding technique under the expert guidance of San Jose&rsquo;s celebrated track coach Lloyd C &lsquo;Bud&rsquo; Winter, whose &lsquo;Speed City&rsquo; stable also included John Carlos and two other prot&eacute;g&eacute;s who won Olympic gold medals in world record times: Lee Evans (400m) and Ronnie Ray Smith (4x100m).
&ldquo;Tommie has that uncanny ability to sustain speed longer,&rdquo; Winter enthused. &ldquo;We measured his stride from 120 yards out in lane four and at that stage it was 8ft 5in (2.57m) up to about 20 yards from the tape. Then it was 8ft 7in (2.62m) and his last three strides were 8ft 9in (2.67m).
&ldquo;This tells us something. It indicates that he is accelerating at the end of a 220 when most are decelerating.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69fc83d87c6efb03ccadedda.jpg" alt="Tommie Smith's stride" />
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Tommie Smith's stride (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Gundlach)
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The range of Smith&rsquo;s talent was similarly huge. He could run 100m in 10.1 (missing the world record by 0.1 in 1966), clocked a 400m world record of 44.5 and ran a 4x400m leg in 43.8. He also boasted a long jump PB of 7.90m, which was measured at 8.18m from the point of take-off.
The extent of Smith&rsquo;s mental strength is more difficult to quantify, but it is evident throughout the 260 pages of Silent Gesture, the inspirational autobiography he penned with journalist David Steele.
It has shades of The Grapes of Wrath. One of 12 children in a sharecropping family, the young Smith gained physical strength from 12-hour shifts picking and chopping cotton. He was six when his family journeyed two days by truck from East Texas to a new life, living in communal shacks and working in the fields of California.
His Olympic triumph in Mexico, when he turned on the &lsquo;Tommie-jets&rsquo; to fly past Carlos with 60m remaining, was achieved despite being carried away on a stretcher after suffering an adductor pull in his 200m semi-final &ndash; and in the face of death threats.
Banned and banished from Mexico by the International Olympic Committee after his podium protest, Smith was ostracised and threatened on his return home. He spent three years as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals American football team before working as a sociology lecturer and track coach, all the while continuing to champion the cause of human rights.
On the podium in Mexico, while Smith and Carlos performed their silent gesture, the Australian silver medallist Peter Norman wore a pin badge in support of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, the movement set up to campaign against the treatment of Black people in the United States and beyond.
When Norman died in 2006, Smith and Carlos travelled to Melbourne for his funeral, delivering eulogies and acting as pallbearers.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage 
<div><a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6885f79e982e117f1338cb26.jpg" alt="MOWA banner" /></a></div>

Remembering Tommie Smith's 19.5 clocking for 200m on a straight track

Smith’s historic straight-track 19.5

<h3>Road to two million: campaign aims to inspire 700,000-plus kids to get moving in 2026&nbsp;</h3>
 Children around the world are celebrating five years of Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day by getting involved in the month-long campaign to inspire at least 700,000 more young people to get moving in 2026.&nbsp;
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is an initiative that uses the power of athletics to inspire children around the world to be more active. Since its launch in 2022, Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day &ndash; celebrated annually on 7 May &ndash; has grown into a truly global celebration, reaching 1.3 million children across schools, clubs and communities. Now, to mark the five-year milestone, the goal is to take that total to two million.&nbsp;
Each Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day has offered a new theme and new ways to engage children in fun, inclusive and age-appropriate athletics activities. The 2026 theme celebrates the power of FIVE, highlighting five years of impact and focusing on celebration and connection. This year&rsquo;s campaign encourages local creativity while contributing to one shared global goal: getting more children moving, more often, through athletics. &nbsp;
The 2026 campaign kicked off in style as Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo joined 50 local children in his home country of Botswana for a special activation on the eve of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26. In his role as a Kids&rsquo; Athletics ambassador, Tebogo encouraged the children as they took part in movement-based activities and relay-inspired challenges.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69f4b0ed52499bbed3d5ed76.jpg" alt="Letsile Tebogo and Sebastian Coe at the Kids' Athletics activation in Gaborone" />
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Letsile Tebogo and Sebastian Coe at the Kids' Athletics activation in Gaborone (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Christel Saneh)
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Alongside this, the Botswana Athletics Association hosted more than 400 children for a Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day festival just outside the National Stadium. The children then had the chance to watch the World Relays in person, receiving tickets from World Athletics and the local organising committee to ensure they were part of history.&nbsp;
As well as watching from the stands, several children had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join their heroes on the track in their roles as baton kids. For select 4x400m races including all the finals, the baton kids handed over race batons to each team as they were introduced at the start line. The children were embraced by the athletes as they joined in on team introductions, gave high fives and rubbed shoulders with the sport&rsquo;s stars.&nbsp;
<h2>Uganda leads global leaderboard&nbsp;</h2>
As the five-year participation total moves ever closer to the two million target, member federations around the world are logging their activities on the global leaderboard.&nbsp;
After just six full days of activities during a campaign period that runs from 1-31 May, Uganda is already well ahead with more than 37,000 kids having participated in 22 activations across the country.&nbsp;
A four-way battle is emerging for the other podium places as Benin, Brazil, Kenya and Venezuela have each already inspired some 5000 children to take part in multiple events.&nbsp;
Brazil has so far hosted 54 activations across the country, following a campaign led by the national federation. There are more than 80 athletics training centres across Brazil and the training centre with the highest level of engagement will receive recognition from the Confedera&ccedil;&atilde;o Brasileira de Atletismo.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69fc53c85723d53b3fee17f0.jpeg" alt="Kids' Athletics Day activity in China" />
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Kids' Athletics Day activity in China
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Elsewhere, China kicked off its Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day celebrations in Linfen on 4 May, when 700 children took part in a day-long festival as part of a larger sports week hosted by the Shanxi Provence. A range of activities were on offer, including a 1km obstacle run around the local park. More activations are planned throughout China, where the target is to reach 10,000 people.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In Portugal, 3500 children have participated in 19 events held by schools and clubs across the country. Activations have also included teacher and coach education workshops to build local capability, and equipment-making workshops where equipment has been made from recyclables to teach children about the value of sustainability and recycling. Their mascot has also been visiting tourist locations in major cities to promote nationwide presence across all districts.
Per capita, three island nations have made their mark so far &ndash; Antigua leads the way, followed by Mauritius and Saint Lucia.
The campaign follows the recent launch of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/kids-athletics/news/kids-athletics-app-launches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kids&rsquo; Athletics app</a>, a free digital resource designed to make Kids&rsquo; Athletics activities more accessible to children, schools, clubs, coaches, teachers and families around the world.&nbsp;
This year&rsquo;s Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day campaign runs until 31 May so there is still a long way to go. Check out <a href="https://www.kidsathleticsday.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kidsathleticsday.org</a> for real time results and everything you need to activate in your own community.&nbsp;

Campaign aims to inspire 700,000-plus kids to get moving in 2026 

Children around the world celebrate five years of Kids’ Athletics Day 

Following an impressive double-header in Beijing Changping, the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup turns its attention to Europe, with the competition's next chapter set to unfold on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands on Thursday (7) and Saturday (9).
The venue is Transvulcania, set against a backdrop of volcanic ridgelines and ancient lava fields. Making its World Cup debut, the event will host two races: an uphill and the first long distance contest of the 2026 season. La Palma is said to be the steepest island in the world, making it a perfect host for mountain running events.
These races are the fourth and fifth stages of the World Cup, following the season-opener at Sāo Br&aacute;s Cross and the recent races in China.
The action begins on Thursday, with the uphill race scheduled for 5:00pm local time. Athletes will depart from the Port of Tazacorte and face an unrelenting challenge &ndash; 1164 metres of climbing across 7.3 kilometres, with the finish line waiting at the Forest Tower at El Time.
The route traces the GR 131 long distance hiking trail through two early landmarks: the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian House at 624 metres. From there, competitors briefly leave the main trail to take in the Viewpoint of Piedra del Guanche at 750 metres, before rejoining the GR 131 for the final push to the forest lookout tower. Those who reach the summit will be rewarded with sweeping views across the north-east of the island and the Aridane Valley.
Saturday brings the 25-kilometre long-distance race that sets off at 7:30am from the island's iconic Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, following the celebrated Ruta de los Volcanes before concluding at Refugio de El Pilar.
The course is a race of two distinct halves. The opening 17 kilometres present a sustained and demanding climb of 1800 metres, all the way to Las Deseadas &ndash; a test of endurance, patience and strength. What follows is an eight-kilometre descent, with athletes able to make up significant ground on the way to the finish line.
The women&rsquo;s competition includes a stellar line-up of athletes. Kenya&rsquo;s Joyce Muthoni Njeru heads to La Palma straight off a win last weekend in the classic up and down race in China and will compete in both races. Her compatriot Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga exploded on to the World Cup circuit with a win at Sāo Br&aacute;s Cross and looks set to be a real contender in this year&rsquo;s competition. Their fellow Kenyan Philaries Jeruto Kisang starts her 2026 World Cup campaign at Transvulcania and, as she showed at the 2023 World Championships and through the 2024 and 2025 World Cups, she can never be underestimated.
Italy&rsquo;s Camilla Magliano leads the women&rsquo;s World Cup rankings after three strong performances and will be looking to capitalise. Ingrid Mutter, Sara Willhoit, Lara Hamilton, Kirsty Skye Dickson and Silvia Lara all take part in both races, while Martina Falchetti competes in the uphill race.
Jedidah Chepkemoi is another debutante for this year&rsquo;s World Cup, and with some recent wins in half marathon road races, it will be interesting to see how she fares on the trails.
The men&rsquo;s races also boast strong fields of Kenyan athletes. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago is the defending World Cup champion and he starts his defence in La Palma. He is equally at home on uphill and long-distance races, so Transvulcania should be ideal for him. Richard Omaya Atuya was a very close fourth place last year, with four victories in the uphill races, and this will also be his 2026 debut in the World Cup. Ephantus Mwangi Njeri also had some strong results in the World Cup last year and could spring a surprise.
Other men to watch include Sweden&rsquo;s Martin Nilsson, who is tipped as an athlete to watch in 2026 by his ITRA Performance Index progression, and Anthony Felber, who has achieved some great results particularly at the longer distance. Tyler McCandless and a strong contingent of Spanish runners including Manuel Anguita, &Aacute;lvaro Escuela, Daniel Osanz and Arezki Habibi are also in action.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

The WMRA Mountain Running World Cup turns its attention to Europe, with the competition's next chapter set to unfold on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands

Mountain Running World Cup heads to La Palma for Transvulcania double-header

World champion&nbsp;Oblique Seville and Olympic champion Gabby Thomas join the already-announced Quincy Hall and Khaleb McRae in being named for the Lone Star Grand Prix, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, in Texas on 6 June.
Jamaica&rsquo;s Seville is set to form part of a loaded 100m field alongside Canada&rsquo;s multiple Olympic and world medallist Andre De Grasse,&nbsp;USA&rsquo;s multiple world medallist&nbsp;Trayvon Bromell, British record-holder&nbsp;Zharnel Hughes and members of USA&rsquo;s victorious 4x100m squad from the recent World Relays:&nbsp;Ronnie Baker, Max Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pjai Austin.
USA&rsquo;s Thomas, a three-time gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is slated to compete in the 200m. The Austin-based sprinter is in top form, having recently broken 11 seconds in a wind-legal 100m for the first time with 10.95 in Gaborone.
She headlines a deep field that includes 2024 NCAA champion and Olympic finalist&nbsp;McKenzie Long, world relay gold medallist&nbsp;Kayla White and Olympic relay silver medallist&nbsp;Jenna Prandini.
Olympic champion Hall&nbsp;will return to the track for a 400m showdown against world short track record-holder&nbsp;McRae.
Hall is set to make his return to competition exactly one year after his last race &ndash; a victory in the 400m at the Rome Diamond League. He is the fourth-fastest man in history at the distance thanks to his 43.40 performance in the Paris Olympic final.
While Hall stepped away from competition, McRae surged on to the global stage. He broke 44 seconds for the first time in 2025 and earned silver as part of USA&rsquo;s 4x400m team at the World Championships. He carried that momentum into 2026, setting a world short track record of 44.52, claiming 400m silver at the World Indoor Championships and anchoring USA to gold in the 4x400m.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be part of the Lone Star Grand Prix,&rdquo; said McRae. &ldquo;Competing at a high level in front of a strong Texas crowd is always special and I&rsquo;m looking forward to putting on a great race. It&rsquo;s a great opportunity to keep building momentum this season.&rdquo;
The women&rsquo;s 400m will feature&nbsp;Britton Wilson,&nbsp;Bailey Lear&nbsp;and Alexis Holmes, while the 110m hurdles includes Olympic silver medallist&nbsp;Daniel Roberts&nbsp;alongside&nbsp;Freddie Crittenden.

World champion Oblique Seville and Olympic champion Gabby Thomas join the already-announced Quincy Hall and Khaleb McRae in being named for the Lone Star Grand Prix

Global champions Seville and Thomas added to Lone Star Grand Prix lineup

Global medallists Kimberly Garcia, Antonella Palmisano, Paula Torres and Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m headline the Poděbrady Walking &ndash; a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold meeting &ndash; on Friday (8).
The races at the new half marathon distance have again lured the event&rsquo;s finest to the Czech spa town 40km east of Prague.
Italy&rsquo;s 2021 Olympic champion Antonella Palmisano faces 2022 double world champion Garc&iacute;a and world bronze medallist Paula Torres.
Palmisano is a Podebrady devotee. Back for the 12th time, she has climbed the podium 10 times including three wins at different competitions.
However, this is her outdoor debut for the year. The only other notable 2026 result is a swift 11:56.74 to win the 3000m at the Italian Indoor Championships in February.
By contrast, not only did Garc&iacute;a win in Poděbrady two years ago at 20km in a superb 1:27:08, more telling is the Peruvian&rsquo;s victory at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Brasilia 26, where she dominated the half marathon for a 1:35:00 clocking.
At the same championships, Ecuador&rsquo;s Paula Torres likewise dominated the marathon for a 3:24:37 win &ndash; a race she led from gun to tape.
Ecuador&rsquo;s strong race walking tradition brings a season debut for Glenda Morejon, silver medallist in the mixed marathon relay at the 2024 Olympics. Morejon will also count Podebrady among her fond memories. She was second in 1:27:21 to Garcia&rsquo;s speedy win in 2024.
Teammate Johana Ord&oacute;&ntilde;ez has already stood on the Podebrady podium too, when she finished third four years ago.
Elsewhere on the entry list is France&rsquo;s Marine Rottier, who carved out a fine fourth in Dudince for the marathon, and India&rsquo;s Priyanka Goswami, who also has the full distance under her belt after coming second at the Indian Championships in 3:37:25.
The men&rsquo;s race is a mouth-watering prospect.
Late entries see World Race Walking Team Championships winner Francesco Fortunato line up alongside world champion Caio Bonfim.
A bigger surprise is Olympic champion Brian Pintado's name on the start list more than a year after undergoing hip surgery. On social media, Pintado declared he is into week 11 of 127 as he bids for another Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028.
Karlstr&ouml;m, the 2023 world silver medallist, is racing the one-kilometre loop around Lazensky Park for an incredible 16th time in all competitions, having been a winner in four of them.
It&rsquo;s no surprise that the Swede wants more: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s always a very well-organised race with a great atmosphere. In my opinion, it&rsquo;s by far the best course in the world &ndash; it brings out the best in everyone who competes there.&rdquo;
Another Podebrady stalwart, Christopher Linke, also lines up. He too has won four times: twice in 2017 at different competitions.
The 37-year-old German comes into this race off the back of a third-place finish in the marathon at the Race Walking Tour Gold meeting in Dudince in March, and a comfortable half marathon win at the German Race Walking Championships last month (1:28:04).
However, Karlstr&ouml;m raced the half marathon in Dudince where he won in 1:24:58. He also clocked 3:04:50 for the marathon at the US Championships in California in January.
Declan Tingay is ready to upset the pair&rsquo;s apple cart. The Australian is the fastest in the field having clocked 1:23:41 in Taicang in March.
Leo Kopp also arrives in form. The German&rsquo;s fine fourth place at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Bras&iacute;lia&rsquo;s warm conditions was achieved in 1:27:50.
Colombia&rsquo;s 2017 world champion Eider Arevalo, who finished 18th in 1:30:16 in Brasilia, is a late entrant. Finland&rsquo;s Jerry Jokinen is ready to battle the best after finishing second in Dudince behind Karlstr&ouml;m in an isolated 1:28:17.
Mexicans Ever Jair Palma Olivares and Noel Chama, who won the US Championships half marathon in 1:27:28, along with Italians Teodorico Caporaso and Andrea Cosi should also be among the early pacemakers.
There is an intriguing entry from Andres Chocho. The 42-year-old &ndash; who won the 2015 Pan-American Games title but is now better known as coach to Garcia, wife Erica de Sena and Olympic champion Brian Pintado &ndash; hasn&rsquo;t finished a Race Walking Tour Gold meeting since 2023.
Paul Warburton for World Athletics

Global medallists Kimberly Garcia, Antonella Palmisano, Paula Torres and Perseus Karlström headline the Poděbrady Walking

Garcia, Palmisano and Karlström headline Poděbrady fields

Ultimate Legend Usain Bolt urges fans to act quickly to secure their seats in Budapest 
An additional wave of tickets is now on sale for the first-ever World Athletics Ultimate Championship, taking place on 11-13 September in Hungary&rsquo;s capital of Budapest. Tickets can be purchased at <a href="https://ultimateathleticschampionship.com/tickets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ultimateathleticschampionship.com/tickets</a>.
Due to high demand, temporary seating will be added to the Gyula Zsivotzky National Athletics Centre, creating an additional 7000 seats per session and increasing total capacity to 21,000 fans per session. These new tickets will enable more fans to be a part of the spectacle in its inaugural edition, including through additional options designed to maximise affordability (from HUF 10,000/&euro;30*).&nbsp;
Usain Bolt, the Ultimate Legend for the global championship, encouraged fans to act quickly.
&ldquo;Tickets to the Ultimate Championship are likely to sell out in record time,&rdquo; Bolt said. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t miss out on this new chance to be in that stadium as the world&rsquo;s best battle for the title of Ultimate champion!&rdquo;
*approximate ticket price conversion in euros

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