Even now, if John Regis takes a glimpse at the medal which he has so generously chosen to donate to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA), the former British sprinter could be excused for thinking that the bronze was actually gold.
<a href="https://viewerxp-wa.azurewebsites.net/#/MOWA-Temporary5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&bull; </a><a href="https://viewerxp-wa.azurewebsites.net/#/MOWA-Temporary5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enter the museum&rsquo;s online 3D platform</a>
For the first 195m of the gripping men&rsquo;s 200m final at the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome, the 20-year-old Londoner looked as though he was going to emerge victorious from his senior debut on the global track and field stage.
Despite the constraints of lane two, Regis powered his way into the lead as he entered the home straight and kept himself in front as the finish line approached.
What happened in the final five metres was a blur that flummoxed the three athletes who seemed to flash across the line together and, also, those watching this gladiatorial sprint battle in the Roman setting of the Stadio Olimpico in its roofless, Coliseum-like state.
The one thing that was clear in the immediate aftermath was that the unheralded Frenchman Gilles Queneherve, in lane six, and Calvin Smith, the defending champion from the USA, out in lane eight, had both closed on Regis with a medal-winning flourish.
What was not certain was whether Regis or either of his rivals had finished in the gold medal position.
Down on the track, Regis instinctively raised an arm in triumph after crossing the line. Then Queneherve did so. Smith, after initially shaking his head in doubt, subsequently followed suit.
The photo finish subsequently resolved the clouded issue.
The featherweight Smith had finished the fastest, retaining his title in 20.16. Queneherve was given the same time in second place. Regis took the bronze in 20.18.
<h2>'Reminiscent of Moscow'</h2>
The television replay showed that in his desperation to cling on to the lead, the British sprinter timed his dip too soon. He lost further momentum before the line by turning his head to the side, clearly sensing danger.
&ldquo;For a fleeting moment, I thought I had won when I crossed the line,&rdquo; Regis admitted, &ldquo;but when I saw the replay on the giant screen I knew I had the bronze medal.&rdquo;
Regis had the further compensation of the British record, his 20.18 eclipsing the 20.21 Allan Wells recorded in being pipped by the Italian Pietro Mennea in the 1980 Olympic final.
&ldquo;John was reminiscent of me in Moscow,&rdquo; said Wells, who watched the race from the stands. &ldquo;He had to expend so much energy around the bend to get himself into that position hitting the straight.&rdquo;
The 35-year-old Wells had to scratch from the 200m because of injury. Regis himself had missed eight weeks of training after rupturing ankle ligaments while playing badminton, paying tribute to his coach, John Isaacs, for getting him into a potential world title winning position.
That the stealthy Smith managed to snatch pole position when it mattered most was no great surprise.
The 26-year-old arrived in Rome with regal sprinting pedigree: officially the fastest man in history, having removed Jim Hines&rsquo; iconic 9.95 100m from the world record with his 9.93 clocking in Colorado Springs in 1983, the year that he won 200m gold and 100m silver at the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki.
Like Regis, Queneherve was a novice in the global sprint game. A racing cyclist for much of his youth, the 21-year-old Parisian finished shy of the podium at the European U20 Championships in Cottbus, placing fourth in the 200m and fifth in a 100m final in which Regis landed the bronze medal.
Seventh months before their dramatic battle in the Italian capital, the young Frenchman had also been denied a bronze by the Briton at the 1987 European Indoor Championships in Lievin, Regis finishing third in 20.54 and Queneherve fourth in 20.83.
Not that the European young guns of the 200m enjoyed an enduring rivalry. Queneherve placed sixth in the Olympic 200m final in Seoul the following year and teamed up with Max Moriniere, Daniel Sangouma and Bruno Marie-Rose to claim bronze for France in the 4x100m.
His career tailed off thereafter, although the 20.18 he ran in Rome in 1987 stood as a French record until Christophe Lemaitre crashed through the 20-second barrier with the 19.80 that earned him world bronze in Daegu in 2011.
<h2>Photographic reminder</h2>
Regis improved the British record on five further occasions, culminating with a 19.87 run in Sestriere in 1994, which stood intact until Zharnel Hughes clocked 19.73 at the London Diamond League meeting in 2023.
For several years, Regis hung a photograph of the dramatic denouement in Rome on the wall of his study, as motivational fodder for the future.
He did go one better in Stuttgart in 1993. Aged 26, Regis led the world 200m final halfway down the home straight after blasting through the first 150m in 14.93, the fastest ever electrical clocking for that distance at the time.
Then the d&eacute;j&agrave; vu caught up with him &ndash; in the form of Frankie Fredericks. The Nambian flew past to snatch the title in an African record of 19.85.
This time Regis was a well-beaten second, in 19.94, with Carl Lewis third in 19.99.
<h2>Budapest and Tokyo global golds</h2>
In the individual arena, the muscular Briton did claim a global gold medal, winning the world indoor 200m final ahead of teammate Ade Mafe in Budapest in 1989.
He also emerged victorious from a thrilling tussle with compatriot Linford Christie in the European outdoor 200m final in Split in 1990, one of four medals he plundered in the Croatian capital. One of those was a gold from the 4x400m.
Regis&rsquo;s range as a world class sprint talent comfortably extended to the quarter mile. Four years after the disappointment of the 200m finish in Rome, he memorably won a world outdoor gold medal, registering a 44.22 split as the vital third leg runner in the British 4x400m team that famously toppled the USA.
<h2>'A bit more subtlety'</h2>
It might all have been different, though.
As a teenager with speed to burn, Regis wanted to be a footballer &ndash; like his famous uncle, Cyrille Regis, the England centre forward.
John had the chance of a professional career when he was given a trial with Newcastle United. He spent a week training alongside Kevin Keegan, the two-time European Footballer of the Year, but was not invited to sign a contract.
&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t do too badly,&rdquo; he recalled, &ldquo;but I was a charging right winger and they were looking for someone with a bit more subtlety.&rdquo;
<h3>The MOWA Collection</h3>
Regis&rsquo;s bronze will permanently join the MOWA&rsquo;s online 3D platform in December as part of the museum&rsquo;s annual induction of new artefacts: <a href="https://viewerxp-wa.azurewebsites.net/#/MOWA-Temporary5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enter the 3D MOWA platform</a>
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage

Even now, if John Regis takes a glimpse at the medal which he has so generously chosen to donate to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA), the former British sprinter could be excused for thinking that the bronze was actually gold.

Regis generously gifts his Rome 1987 bronze medal to the MOWA

Kenya&rsquo;s Ruth Chepngetich took almost two minutes off the world record* at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:09:56 on Sunday (13).
Not only did she obliterate Tigist Assefa&rsquo;s world record of 2:11:53, set in Berlin last year, Chepngetich also notched up her third Chicago Marathon victory and chopped more than four minutes off her previous best of 2:14:18, set when winning here in 2022.
On a good day for Kenyan runners, John Korir took the men&rsquo;s title in 2:02:43, the second-fastest time ever recorded in Chicago behind the world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum last year.
Chepngetich&rsquo;s intent was clear from the start. She breezed through the first 5km in 15:00 and had Ethiopia&rsquo;s Sutume Asefa Kebede for company, and then reached 10km in an astonishing 30:14 with Kebede still just two seconds behind.
Chepngetich continued her relentless pace and hit the half-way mark in an incredible 1:04:16, the fifth-fastest clocking in history for the half marathon distance and putting her on course for a sub-2:09 finish. Kebede had started to drop behind, but she was still operating well inside world record pace, reaching the half-way point in 1:04:30, three minutes ahead of Joyciline Jepkosgei.
The gap between Chepngetich and Kebede continued to grow throughout the second half. The pace of both women dropped, Kebede&rsquo;s more so than Chepngetic, and by 30km (1:31:49) the Kenyan had a lead of almost two minutes over her Ethiopian rival.
Chepngetich&rsquo;s next 10km was covered in 31:22, which was her slowest of the race so far, but still remarkably quick and enough to increase her leading margin to more than six minutes. With little more than two kilometres left to run, she was still well inside world record pace, the likelihood of breaking it increasing with every step.
Spurred on by her memories of the 2022 race, when she missed out on the world record by just 14 seconds, Chepngetich powered through the final stages and crossed the line in 2:09:57, becoming the first woman to break 2:10. Remarkably, only nine athletes went quicker in the men&rsquo;s race today.
&ldquo;I feel so great. I&rsquo;m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record. The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.&rdquo;
Kebede held on for second place in 2:17:32 while Kenya&rsquo;s Irine Cheptai came through for third place in 2:17:52.
By contrast, the men&rsquo;s race got off to a relatively conservative start before Korir broke away and sped up in the second half en route to a dominant win with huge negative splits.
A lead pack of 10 men ran together through the first 10km in 29:27, and they were still one big group as they passed through the half-way point in 1:02:19, putting them on course for a 2:04:38 finish.
Korir, along with fellow Kenyans Daniel Ebenyo and Amos Kipruto, continued to push the pace into the second half. By 30km, reached in 1:28:18, the lead group was down to seven men. But soon after, Korir increased his pace and broke free from the pack, creating a gap of 29 seconds by the time he reached 35km.
His leading margin continued to grow, and by 40km his lead was 92 seconds over Kipruto and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Huseydin Mohamed Esa. Korir sped up in the final kilometres and crossed the line in 2:02:43, having covered the second half in 1:00:24. Esa was second in 2:04:39 and Kipruto third (2:04:50).
*Subject to the usual ratification procedure
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:09:56 2 Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) 2:17:32 3 Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:17:52 4 Buze Diriba Kejela (ETH) 2:20:22 5 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:20:51 6 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:20:52 7 Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:21:56 8 Ashete Bekere Dido (ETH) 2:23:10
Men 1 John Korir (KEN) 2:02:43 2 Huseydin Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:04:39 3 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:50 4 Vincent Ngeitch (KEN) 2:05:15 5 Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 2:06:04 6 Kyohei Hosoya (JPN) 2:07:20 7 CJ Albertson (USA) 2:08:17 8 Toshiki Sadakata (JPN) 2:08:22

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich took almost two minutes off the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Chepngetich smashes world marathon record in Chicago with 2:09:56

Scout Adkin and Andrea Elia were victorious at the Lagunc KM Verticale, this season&rsquo;s penultimate Valsir Mountain Running World Cup race, in Chiavenna, Italy, on Saturday (12).
The Lagunc KM Verticale takes a time trial format, and there were some fast times on a drizzly and cool day.
With the top three women in the <a href="https://www.wmra.info/wp-content/uploads/files/world_cup/2024_WORLD_CUP/2024_WC_Results/World_Cup_Classification_10from12races.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Cup rankings</a> running, and just two points separating second and third, athletes were ready for an important weekend of racing.
It was Swiss runner Paola Stampanoni who threw down the gauntlet early on as she clocked 39:13. It wasn&rsquo;t until Britain&rsquo;s Adkin &ndash; second in the World Cup rankings &ndash; appeared over the brow of the final climb that Stampanoni&rsquo;s mark was beaten as Adkin finished in 37:57.
Kenya&rsquo;s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, who started the race one place behind Adkin in the rankings, was second in 38:35 and her compatriot Joyce Muthoni Njeru, the World Cup leader, finished fifth in 39:55. Stampanoni held on for third place, Finland&rsquo;s Susanna Saapunki was fourth in 39:44 and Australian Lara Hamilton took sixth.
In the World Cup rankings, Adkin has closed the gap on Muthoni Njeru, with 299 points against 309. That makes tomorrow&rsquo;s closing race incredibly exciting. Jeruto Kisang is in third on 289 and Saapunki moved up to fourth on 188.
It is equally nail-biting in the men&rsquo;s World Cup rankings and the top six men were all taking part on Saturday.
Ahead of the race, Kenya&rsquo;s Patrick Kipngeno&nbsp;led with 235 points, with his compatriots Patrick Omobogo Kiriago just eight points behind him and Josphat Kiprotich 11 points behind him. Next were Michael Selelo Saoli, Richard Omaya Atuya and Paul Machoka.
Unlike in the women&rsquo;s competition, the strongest marks came from the latter runners. Omaya Atuya and Machoka finished strongly in 32:28 and 32:16 respectively, followed by Kipngeno in 31:50, and for a short time it looked like Kipngeno might have it. However, it was Italy&rsquo;s Elia who powered through the line to set the fastest mark of 31:08. Only Henri Aymonod could beat him but he fell just seven seconds short of Elia&rsquo;s time and placed second. Kipngeno was third and Tiziano Moia had a strong run for fourth, with Machoka eventually fifth.
The <a href="https://www.wmra.info/wp-content/uploads/files/world_cup/2024_WORLD_CUP/2024_WC_Results/World_Cup_Classification_10from12races.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Cup ranking</a> positions remain unchanged in the top six for the men. Kipngeno now has a lead of 32 points over Kiriago (274 against 242), with Kiprotich on 216. Saoli now has 191, Atuya 179 and Machoka 177.
On Sunday the Val Bregaglia Trail starts at 9:30am local time.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

Scout Adkin and Andrea Elia were victorious at the Lagunc KM Verticale in Chiavenna

Adkin and Elia win penultimate World Cup race, Lagunc KM Verticale

Ruth Chepngetich heads to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on the hunt for a hattrick, while Birhanu Legese is the fastest in the men&rsquo;s field for the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (13).
The women&rsquo;s race features a clash between Chepngetich, her Kenyan compatriot Joyciline Jepkosgei and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Sutume Kebede &ndash; three sub-2:17 runners who form part of a field that includes another six women to have dipped under 2:20.
Chepngetich, the 2019 world marathon champion, won in Chicago in 2021 and 2022, and followed that with a runner-up finish to Sifan Hassan last year. She clocked 2:14:18 on that occasion, while her PB of 2:14:18 set in Chicago in 2022 makes her the fourth fastest women&rsquo;s marathon runner in history.
She ran 2:24:36 for her most recent marathon, in London in April, and placed ninth, but then clocked 1:05:58 to win the 21k Buenos Aires half marathon in August.
Jepkosgei, who won the London Marathon in 2021 and New York City Marathon in 2019, finished fourth in Chicago last year in 2:17:23.&nbsp;
She improved by one place when returning to marathon action in London in April, setting a PB of 2:16:24.
It&rsquo;s Kebede who leads this season&rsquo;s top list, thanks to the PB of 2:15:55 she set to win the Tokyo Marathon in March. That puts her at No.8 all time and she will be hoping to make the most of the fast course in Chicago.
&ldquo;After seeing what my teammate Kelvin Kiptum did last year, I want to come to Chicago to do something great,&rdquo; said Kebede, who finished 15th in last year&rsquo;s race.
Kiptum, who was part of Kebede&rsquo;s training group, died in a road traffic accident in February, just four months after he set his world marathon record of 2:00:35 in Chicago. This year, the event will honour Kiptum&rsquo;s legacy with a moment of silence at the start line.
Joining Chepngetich, Jepkosgei and Kebede on that start line will be three more women with PBs under 2:18 &ndash; Ethiopia&rsquo;s Degitu Azimeraw, Ashete Bekere and Hiwot Gebrekidan &ndash; plus Kenya&rsquo;s Irine Cheptai, who ran 2:18:22 in Hamburg in April.
The field also features the second and third fastest ever US women&rsquo;s marathon runners, Keira D&rsquo;Amato and Betsy Saina, who have also dipped under 2:20. They are joined in this competitive field by their compatriots Sara Hall and Emma Bates.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Legese leads the men&rsquo;s field with the PB of 2:02:48 he ran in Berlin in 2019. That performance puts him sixth on the men&rsquo;s world marathon all-time list but since then his highest marathon finish has been a third place, achieved in Rotterdam with a 2:05:16 run in April.
The two-time Tokyo Marathon champion will want to return to winning ways when he heads back to Chicago, where he placed 10th when making his World Marathon Majors debut in 2018, but he faces tough opposition.
Six other men in the field have PBs faster than 2:06, including Kenya&rsquo;s Amos Kipruto, Vincent Ngetich and John Korir, and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Dawit Wolde, Amedework Walelegn and Mohamed Esa.
Kipruto, the 2019 world bronze medallist, and Ngetich have matching PBs of 2:03:13. Kipruto won the London Marathon in 2022 and trains with Benson Kipruto, who won that year&rsquo;s Chicago Marathon, while Ngetich was second in the Berlin Marathon last year, five places ahead of Kipruto. He was also third at this year&rsquo;s Tokyo Marathon.
Korir ran his PB of 2:05:01 when finishing third in Chicago in 2022, while Wolde ran 2:03:48 in Valencia last year, Esa has a best of 2:05:05 from Amsterdam in 2022 and Walelegn clocked 2:04:50 in Rotterdam in April, finishing runner-up &ndash; one place ahead of Legese.
Looking to join them at the front of the field will be Kenya&rsquo;s Daniel Ebenyo, the world 10,000m and half marathon silver medallist who makes his marathon debut. The 29-year-old ran a 59:30 half marathon in Berlin in April, 26 seconds off his PB set in Manama in 2022.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Jemal Yimer Mekonnen, who finished fourth in the half marathon at last year&rsquo;s World Road Running Championships behind runner-up Ebenyo, is back in marathon action after his win in Seoul in March.
Among the athletes racing on home soil are USA&rsquo;s Zach Panning, CJ Albertson and Brian Shrader.
<h3>Elite fields</h3>
&nbsp;
Women Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:14:18 Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:15:55 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:16:24 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:17:58 Ashete Bekere (ETH) 2:17:58 Hiwot Gebrekidan (ETH) 2:17:59 Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:18:22 Keira D'Amato (USA) 2:19:12 Betsy Saina (USA) 2:19:17 Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32 Emma Bates (USA) 2:22:10 Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:23:11 Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:23:24 Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:24:27 Gabi Rooker (USA) 2:24:35 Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 2:24:43 Stacey Ndiwa (KEN) 2:25:29 &nbsp; Lauren Hagans (USA) 2:25:56 Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:26:18 Jackie Gaughan (USA) 2:27:08 Dominique Scott (RSA) 2:27:31 Diane Nukuri (USA) 2:27:50 Makena Morley (USA) 2:30:25 Anne Marie Blaney (USA) 2:30:43 Amy Davis-Green (USA) 2:33:09 Aubrey Frentheway (USA) debut
&nbsp;
Men Birhanu Legese (ETH) 2:02:48 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:13 Vincent Ngetich (KEN) 2:03:13 Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:03:48 Amedework Walelegn (ETH) 2:04:50 John Korir (KEN) 2:05:01 Mohamed Esa (ETH) 2:05:05 Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:06:08 Kyohei Hosoya (JPN) 2:06:35 Toshiki Sadakata (JPN) 2:07:05 Tatsuya Maruyama (JPN) 2:07:50 Yuichi Yasui (JPN) 2:08:48 Jorge Castelblanco (PAN) 2:09:24 Zach Panning (USA) 2:09:28 Brian Shrader (USA) 2:09:46 CJ Albertson (USA) 2:09:53 Tomoki Yoshioka (JPN) 2:10:03 Reed Fischer (USA) 2:10:34 Nathan Martin (USA) 2:10:45 Colin Mickow (USA) 2:11:22 Kevin Salvano (USA) 2:11:26 Jacob Thomson (USA) 2:11:40 Turner Wiley (USA) 2:11:59 Shadrack Kipchirchir (USA) 2:13:02 JP Flavin (USA) 2:13:27 Charlie Sweeney (USA) 2:13:41 Ben Kendell (USA) 2:15:49 Phil Parrot-Migas (CAN) 2:15:53 Aaron Gruen (USA) 2:15:56 Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) debut Peter Lynch (IRL) debut Alex Maier (USA) debut Alex Masai (USA) debut

Ruth Chepngetich heads to the Chicago Marathon on the hunt for a hattrick, while Birhanu Legese is the fastest in the men’s field

Chepngetich and Legese lead Chicago Marathon fields

The leading athletes in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup head the stacked fields for the finale of the season taking place this weekend (12-13) in the Lombardy region of Italy in Chiavenna, a town steeped in mountain running history.
On Saturday (12) athletes will contest the final World Cup short uphill race with the 25th edition of Lagunc KM Verticale and the following day the last long race, Val Bregaglia Trail, will take place.
Both races are point to point. The vertical race starts in Chiavenna and climbs to Lagunc, while the Val Bregaglia Trail starts just over the border in Switzerland and finishes in Chiavenna.
With 100 points on offer for an athlete winning both races, it is a crucial weekend for the World Cup. The <a href="https://www.wmra.info/wp-content/uploads/files/world_cup/2024_WORLD_CUP/2024_WC_Results/World_Cup_Classification_10from12races.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current rankings</a> show it&rsquo;s possible that any one of six men could emerge World Cup champion, as could any one of three women.
In the women&rsquo;s race the World Cup leader Joyce Muthoni Njeru of Kenya spearheads the competition, following her double win at Broken Arrow as well as Trofeo Nasego and Smarna Gora just last weekend. She has a good buffer between her and Britian&rsquo;s Scout Adkin with 288 points to Adkin&rsquo;s 244, but the latter has also had a consistent season with wins at Montemuro Vertical Run and La Montee du Nid d&rsquo;Aigle plus a second place at Sierre Zinal. Similarly, the third placed runner in the women&rsquo;s World Cup, Kenya&rsquo;s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, has also had an extremely strong season, with podiums in four out of six races, and just two points separate her and Adkin. Kisang won both races here last year, which could be important.
But with such a deep field, the race is still wide open. Susanna Saapunki is currently in fifth place after strong performances at Montemuro, Vertical and Trofeo Nasego and Smarna Gora. There&rsquo;s little doubt she will overtake Gloria Chebet, who is currently in fourth and does not appear to be racing here, and she will be one to watch in both races.
Some strong runners are travelling from the US, which will add another dimension to the competition. Lauren Gregory, who was sixth at Vertical Nasego, will be taking on the vertical race, as will Rachel Tomajczyk, who achieved two sixth places at Broken Arrow this year. US-based Australian athlete Lara Hamilton will be taking on both races.
There will also be a formidable Italian contingent. Alice Gaggi, who was second in the Val Bregaglia Trail last year and had a strong run at Smarna Gora, will race both days. Vivien Bonzi will be racing the vertical, and she was second here last year. Camilla Magliano will be doubling up and is always one to watch.
Other women to look out for include Sara Willhoit, who was third at Giir di Mont and is currently seventh in the World Cup standings, and Amairei Ioana Madalina, the winner of Giir di Mont, both of whom take on both races.
The men&rsquo;s line-up is equally strong and it&rsquo;s very close at the top of the World Cup rankings. Kenya&rsquo;s Patrick Kipngeno&nbsp;leads with 235 points, after two wins at Broken Arrow and two at Nasego. His compatriot Philemon Ombogo Kiriago&nbsp;is just eight points behind him after an incredibly consistent season, including that unforgettable duel with Kilian Jornet at Sierre Zinal. Just 11 points behind Kiriago is Josphat Kiprotich, who achieved second places at Grossglockner, La Montee du Nid d&rsquo;Aigle and Vertical Nasego. All three athletes are entered into both races.
There&rsquo;s also another trio of Kenyan athletes in contention for the World Cup. Michael Selelo Saoli won Giir di Mont and has had a string of strong results. Richard Omaya Atuya has won all but one of the World Cup races he has entered this year &ndash; Grossglockner, La Montee du Nid d&rsquo;Aigle and Smarna Gora, with just Sierre Zinal eluding him. He is on 151 points, so a long way behind Kipngeno, but two wins this weekend isn&rsquo;t out of the question based on his season. Just behind him is Paul Machoka, who could also be a contender. Again, all three runners are entered in both races.
As with the women&rsquo;s race, there is a strong team of US runners. Joseph Gray, who won the World Championships in 2019, will be in the vertical race. He will be joined by Christian Allen, who won the USA National Running Championship (up and down race) earlier this year, and Liam Meirow, who achieved a number of top 10 places in the World Cup last year, including a third place at Sky Gran Canaria. Tyler McCandless and Andy Wacker will double up.
There will of course be a number of top Italian runners competing on home turf. Henri Aymonod won the vertical race last year, as he has multiple times. He was third at both PizTri Vertical and Vertical Nasego this year, and can never be bet against in a short, uphill only race. Andrea Elia is currently eighth in the World Cup rankings and a strong run here in the vertical race could see him improve on that. Alberto Vender could do well in the vertical race and Luciano Rota is one to watch in both.
Others to keep an eye on include Jacob Adkin, who won the vertical race here in 2022 and was second in the European Championships uphill race earlier this year, and Michael Sutton from New Zealand.
The action starts on Saturday at 9:15am local time with the Lagunc KM Verticale. On Sunday Val Bregaglia Trail starts at 9:30am.
The Lagunc KM Verticale will see runners start at 352m in the historic centre of Chiavenna. This vertical kilometre course is about as pure as they come, with no flat or downhill sections, making the profile a perfect sloping line up to the finish in the small mountain village of Lagunc at 1352m. Along the way the runners will follow ancient, steep and sometimes technical tracks.
Val Bregaglia Trail begins in Promontogno in Switzerland at 856m, then it picks up the Via Bregaglia trail, following it through stunning woodland tracks over the border into Italy at Castasegna. After following the river for a short time, the runners pop out at Lago di Villa di Chiavenna before a long, gradual climb up to Savogna and a final downhill or flat 7km into the finish at Chiavenna.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

The leading athletes in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup head the stacked fields for the finale of the season taking place this weekend in Chiavenna

World's top mountain runners assemble in Chiavenna for World Cup showdown

At around 3am on the night she became the Olympic discus champion in Tokyo, Valarie Allman processed the biggest moment of her career by eating pizza, alone, in the athletes&rsquo; village of the spectator-free Games.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I don't even know if you can call that a celebration,&rdquo; Allman said. &ldquo;I mean, I love pizza. It was what it was.&rdquo;
Three years later, after retaining her Olympic title in Paris in front of a sold-out Stade de France crowd, she left to celebrate, for real, surrounded by family.
&ldquo;We got burgers at 2am,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It's being able to lean into the moment that has felt like the ultimate celebration.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/67067625973fdb46525fb9b0.jpg" alt="Valarie Allman celebrates her win at the Paris Olympics" />
Valarie Allman celebrates her win at the Paris Olympics (&copy; Getty Images)
</div>
Two golds marked by two, quite different, celebrations.&nbsp;
And to think, neither would have happened had Allman taken a job offer at Microsoft.
As track and field looks ahead to 2025, Allman remains as accomplished as anyone in her discipline. The US athlete&rsquo;s personal best of 71.46m places her 16th on the world all-time list and is the second-farthest mark of the past 32 years.&nbsp;
It is a remarkable career &ndash; one that almost never began.&nbsp;
&bull; The singlet and shoes worn by Valarie Allman when she won gold at the Tokyo Olympics are on display in the <a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/heritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Museum of World Athletics (MOWA)</a>
That Allman began throwing discus at all came almost by accident. As a high school freshman in Colorado, she picked up the implement only because she wanted to attend her team's annual spaghetti dinner that was open to throwers. She was such a quick study in the event that by 2016, she ended her junior year at Stanford with collegiate All-American honours. That summer, she began an internship at Microsoft, where she had access to the software giant&rsquo;s &ldquo;product realisation lab,&rdquo; a shop where engineers and designers could bring designs to life. For Allman, who was studying to work in hardware engineering and product design, the experience felt like a dream.&nbsp;
But the reality that working on huge projects would often require taking on one, narrow role &ldquo;made me realise that maybe within tech, or within hardware, my passion would actually look a little bit different,&rdquo; she said.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6706763d973fdb46525fb9b3.JPG" alt="Valarie Allman in Paris" />
Valarie Allman in Paris (&copy; Christel Saneh for World Athletics)
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Allman felt equally unsure about the viability of a professional career as she returned to Stanford for her final year of eligibility. That year, a new throws coach arrived at Stanford named Zebulon Sion who was convinced she possessed world-class potential. Qualifying for the 2017 World Championships in London after their first season working together confirmed her coach&rsquo;s instincts had been correct, she said, and boosted her confidence that she could hold her own against pros.
&ldquo;I realised in that moment that I wanted to bridge that gap and be able to compete with them,&rdquo; she said.
That desire was soon put to the test when Microsoft offered her a full-time position to return to the company.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I came to a &lsquo;Y&rsquo; in the road of, do I go to Microsoft? Or do I pursue this crazy dream of trying to become a professional athlete and make the Olympics?&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I realised there&rsquo;s only one time in your life that you can go after these athletic things.&rdquo;
Had she accepted the job offer, &ldquo;that would one million percent have been the end of my throwing career,&rdquo; Allman said. &ldquo;One million percent.&rdquo;
The rest is track and field history. By 2018, she was a US champion. In 2020, she broke Gia Lewis-Smallwood&rsquo;s six-year-old US record. By following her golden triumph in Tokyo with another gold medal in Paris, Allman became only the third woman to win the discus in consecutive Olympics.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/61080f8dbf4f52b8b5bb648e.jpg" alt="Valarie Allman celebrates her discus win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games" />
Valarie Allman celebrates her discus win at the Tokyo Olympic Games (&copy; Getty Images)
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On her most frustrating training days, Allman still thinks about the career crossroads she faced when choosing between discus and tech; it puts in perspective whatever issue she is working through, reminding her of the privilege of her current career.
Later in life, Allman still wants to find an opportunity to use her Stanford degree in product design. Until then, she will continue to extend a golden career in the ring she once never thought was possible.
&ldquo;The biggest thing I feel grateful for is just finding the right people at the right time that believed in me,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;that saw potential in me and kept this journey going way longer, way farther than I ever expected I would.&rdquo;
Andrew Greif for World Athletics

Two Olympic discus wins marked by two different celebrations, and neither would have happened had Valarie Allman taken a job offer at Microsoft

How Allman's career crossroads led to golden discus glory

With a 100m PB of 9.82, he's the second fastest African sprinter in history, but what defines Akani Simbine on the international circuit is his consistency.&nbsp;
The South African sprint star has run faster than 10 seconds for 100m in each of the past 10 years and he won the first global major medal of his career at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, anchoring the men&rsquo;s 4x100m quartet to silver.
It was his first Olympic medal after two fourth-place finishes in the 100m, in Tokyo and Paris, plus a fifth place in Rio.
And the quiet force in the world of sprinting still has plenty more he hopes to achieve.
<div>Click the thumbnail to watch:<a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/latest-videos/66c8b96b2c0bd1465ed4d362" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/66c8b5b4b854cdd5168f54d0.jpg" alt="AkaniThumbnail" /></a></div>
&ldquo;I got into this game pretty late in my life as a late teenager, 19, and since then it&rsquo;s been like stepping stones and learning about athletics, learning about how things are done and being thrown in the circuit saying &lsquo;okay, swim&rsquo;. I think that&rsquo;s why I don&rsquo;t feel so old in the game,&rdquo; says the 31-year-old.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t talk much; I am very self-kept. I have a lot of respect for everyone that lines up, a tonne of respect, because I know what you put in, to be here. I think my performances and my actual work that I put in speaks louder than what I would do on social media.
&ldquo;Being part of a small group of athletes that are taking sprinting to the world &ndash; where Africa&rsquo;s not known for sprinting, Africa&rsquo;s known for the distance &ndash; I&rsquo;m just proud of the fact that I could spearhead this generation and I can motivate the next generation to do well and to do better. To want to come and sprint, to want to come and run in different countries in the world and show how fast you are.
&ldquo;What I&rsquo;ve done for my country is amazing, what I&rsquo;ve done for myself in athletics is really amazing. I never dreamt of this. I never dreamt of running all over different countries, running sub-10 &ndash; this was not even part of my plan as a teenager. I&rsquo;m not going to leave the game any time soon. I&rsquo;ll still be around until I feel that I&rsquo;ve had enough of the game and I&rsquo;m ready to move on.&rdquo;

With a 100m PB of 9.82, he's the second fastest African sprinter in history, but what defines Akani Simbine on the international circuit is his consistency

Akani Simbine: a quiet force

World Athletics was named Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards in London on Monday (7), in recognition of its ambitious initiatives to encourage and demonstrate action on environmental and climate change issues over the past year.
Launched in 2022, the annual awards celebrate individuals and organisations from across the globe who are actively contributing to a more sustainable future through their sporting profile and practises.
World Athletics was credited for several initiatives, including the implementation of its <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/sustainability/athletics-for-a-better-world-standard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athletics for a Better World Standard</a>, a system that evaluates an event's environmental, social and local economic impacts and benefits that has been incorporated into the event bidding and licencing process.
The <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/champions-better-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Champions for a Better World</a> programme, which provides platforms for athletes to speak out on their environmental and social concerns, was also noted for its impact since it was established in 2022. World Athletics' consistent spotlighting of climate issues and their impact on sport was also cited by the Awards&rsquo; panel of judges.
<h2>&lsquo;Sport as an amplifying voice&rsquo;</h2>
Speaking on the impact of the Athletics for a Better World Standard, which now requires events to consider environmental and social impacts in their planning and delivery, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: &ldquo;Inclusion of sustainability metrics into our bidding criteria helps as a catalyst for change. In order to successfully bid for our events, it might actually demand greater focus on an event's environmental impact."
Collaboration, Coe said, is also a core component of the Standard.
"Let us use sport as an amplifying voice. I will go to my grave fundamentally believing that sport is a key vehicle for change. It doesn't always happen quickly. It doesn't happen overnight. But I've rarely seen a sport go into any political, cultural or national environment that hasn't actually flicked the dial socially or politically."
Coe thanked World Athletics Vice President and Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei, who was in London to participate in the annual General Assembly of signatories to the United Nations Sport for Climate Action Framework on Monday, for accepting the award on his behalf.
&ldquo;Jackson has quickly become one of our sport&rsquo;s greatest sustainability champions. No athletics competitions take place in Kenya without sustainability initiatives playing a strong role.&rdquo;
Athletics Kenya was the first World Athletics member federation to become a signatory to the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework. World Athletics signed on to the framework in 2021.
Through its Green Sport Awards, BBC Sport aims to celebrate the good news - the athletes, former athletes and organisations working hard to enact and inspire change.
The other nominees for &lsquo;Elite Organisation of the Year&rsquo; include the motorsport series Extreme E, organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and World Rugby.
<h2>Cowley recognised for climate advocacy</h2>
Australian race walker Rhydian Cowley, a bronze medallist in the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, was named the Green &lsquo;World Athlete of the Year', in recognition of his climate advocacy and promotion of environmental sustainability at both local and global levels.
Cowley, who is a member of the World Athletics Champions for a Better World programme, said: &ldquo;Taking action on climate change is the best way to respond to its impacts, which are already affecting our lives and our sports - impacts that I have experienced first hand in competition and training.
&ldquo;Winning this Green Sports award helps me to feel like the route I've taken is making a valuable contribution and supports me to continue my own climate action journey,&rdquo; Cowley continued. &ldquo;In particular I'd like to note World Athletics and its Champions for a Better World programme for the way it has empowered voices within the sport of athletics since its creation. This has supported the Athletics for a Better World platform that has justifiably helped earn World Athletics the 2024 Elite Organisation Award.&rdquo;
Cowley is also active in <a href="https://www.ecoathletes.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EcoAthletes</a>, the <a href="https://www.sportsenvironmentalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Environment Alliance</a>, <a href="https://championsforearth.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Champions For Earth</a>, <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">High Impact Athletes</a>, and <a href="https://frontrunners.org/EN/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FrontRunners</a>, all largely athlete-led groups working to promote and foster environmental awareness and action in their communities.
World Athletics

World Athletics was named Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards in London on Monday (7), in recognition of its ambitious initiatives to encourage and demonstrate action on environmental and climate change issues over the past year

World Athletics wins Organisation of the Year at BBC Green Sport Awards

Italy's Antonella Palmisano and Japan's Toshikazu Yamanishi lived up to their billing as favourites at the III GP Internacional Madrid Marcha Silbo Telecom, a World Athletics Race Walking Tour Gold event, held over 10km in the Spanish capital on a cloudy morning on Sunday (6).
Both athletes enjoyed commanding wins, Palmisano winning by an overwhelming margin of 1:01 ahead of Ukraine&rsquo;s Mariia Sakharuk and Yamanishi crossing the finish line 18 seconds ahead of Italy&rsquo;s defending champion Francesco Fortunato.
The women&rsquo;s event opened at a moderate pace, the clock reading 4:25 for the first one-kilometre circuit with five athletes at the helm &ndash; Palmisano joined by Sakharuk, Costa Rica&rsquo;s Noelia Vargas and the Spanish pair of Raquel Gonzalez and Laura Garcia-Caro. The 33-year-old Italian soon picked up her pace and a couple of laps covered in 4:18 proved to be enough to leave Vargas and the Spaniards behind, but Sakharuk, a 1:28:47 20km specialist, remained on Palmisano&rsquo;s shoulder. By the third kilometre, that duo led in 13:00, some 10 seconds clear of Vargas, herself another 12 seconds ahead of Gonzalez and 14 over Garcia-Caro.
Sakharuk&rsquo;s resistance came to an end midway through the fourth lap, as the 29-year-old just could not maintain the Tokyo Olympic champion&rsquo;s pace. By halfway, Palmisano comfortably led with a 21:45 time to the Ukrainian&rsquo;s 22:08, with Vargas another four seconds adrift.
That trio looked to have secured their podium places, as Gonzalez and Garcia-Caro travelled some way back, the latter &ndash; who secured seventh place at the Paris Olympics &ndash; was then forced to drop out shortly after covering the sixth kilometre due to a tough fall.
With victory on the way, European champion Palmisano slowed her pace over the following laps, which she covered in the 4:25-4:28 range, but even so she extended her lead on Sakharuk who had been caught by Vargas shortly after halfway. Both race walked together for two circuits before Sakharuk managed to get rid of her rival inside the eighth circuit.
At the tape, Palmisano had built an impressive advantage of more than a minute over the runner-up Sakharuk, as they respectively finished in 44:02 and 45:03, while Vargas comfortably secured third place in 45:17. Surprisingly, Colombia&rsquo;s Sandra Lorena Arenas, a fine fourth at the Paris Olympics, was never a factor and had to settle for fifth, also behind Gonzalez, timed at 47:03.
&ldquo;This is my last competition of the year and I&rsquo;m happy to finish with a win after my setback at the Paris Olympics where I had Covid a few days prior to the race,&rdquo; said a smiling Palmisano.
&ldquo;My primary goal next season will be the Tokyo World Championships,&rdquo; added the Italian star, who has the opportunity to complete a hat trick of major titles there, having already claimed Olympic and European gold.
<h2>Yamanishi proves strongest</h2>
Held alongside the women&rsquo;s event, the men&rsquo;s competition also started at a slow rhythm of 4:07 for the opening kilometre. Despite that, two of the big names &ndash; Spain&rsquo;s Paul McGrath and Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstrom &ndash; dropped out at that early stage. While McGrath is just not yet in his best form, Karlstrom suffered discomfort in his left quadriceps the day before while warming up and preferred not to take any risks. The pace was maintained over the next few laps with six men at the head. Yamanishi, Fortunato, his fellow Italians Gianluca Picchiottino and Davide Finochetti, Spain&rsquo;s Diego Garcia and Brazil&rsquo;s Matheus Correa were in that group, Yamanishi and Fortunato making the most of the early pace which increased to 4:00 and 4:02 over the subsequent laps. As a consequence, first Finochetti and then Correa and finally Picchiottino lost ground and by halfway the podium spots seemed to be decided in favour of Yamanishi, Fortunato and Garcia, the trio clocking 20:21.
Once in the second half, the 2019 and 2022 world champion Yamanishi began to pick up his pace to cover the next laps in 3:55 and a lethal 3:51 to destroy any opposition, while Fortunato race walked comfortably in second and Garcia travelled in third just a couple of seconds clear of a threatening Picchiottino.
The 28-year-old leader slowed his rhythm slightly over the remaining laps but was always under the 4:00 barrier and he won unopposed in 40:00 with a lonesome Fortunato in second (40:18). To the delight of the 10,000-strong crowd assembled, Garcia managed to keep his Italian pursuer at bay to get third place in 40:44 to Picchiottino&rsquo;s 40:49.
&ldquo;The circuit is tough as it&rsquo;s always uphill or downhill and it was a windy day, but I&rsquo;m in fine form and managed to win,&rdquo; said Yamanishi. &ldquo;This has been a difficult season for me as I couldn&rsquo;t defend my Olympic medal in Paris, but I was training at altitude this summer in the company of Massimo Stano and that was key to being in good shape now.
&ldquo;Obviously I only have eyes for the Tokyo World Championships next September, where I would like to complete a hat trick of world titles.&rdquo;
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Antonella Palmisano (ITA) 44:02 2 Mariia Sakharuk (UKR) 45:03 3 Noelia Vargas (CRC) 45:17 4 Raquel Gonzalez (ESP) 46:35 5 Sandra Lorena Arenas (COL) 47:03 6 Antia Chamosa (ESP) 47:08 7 Jekaterina Mirotvortseva (EST) 47:34 8 Tiziana Spiller (HUN) 48:40 9 Lucia Redondo (ESP) 48:45 10 Eva Rico (ESP) 50:50
Men 1 Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) 40:00 2 Francesco Fortunato (ITA) 40:18 3 Diego Garcia (ESP) 40:44 4 Gianluca Picchiottino (ITA) 40:49 5 Matheus Correa (BRA) 41:15 6 Daniel Chamosa (ESP) 41:47 7 Marc Tur (ESP) 42:18 8 Alvaro Lopez (ESP) 42:26 9 Jose Manuel Perez (ESP) 42:33 10 Ivan Lopez (ESP) 42:33

Italy's Antonella Palmisano and Japan's Toshikazu Yamanishi lived up to their billing as favourites at the III GP Internacional Madrid Marcha Silbo Telecom

Palmisano and Yamanishi reign in Madrid

Richard Omaya Atuya and Joyce Muthoni Njeru achieved a Kenyan double at the Smarna Gora Race, the 10th race in this season&rsquo;s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, on Saturday (5).
Cool, drizzly and misty conditions greeted the runners for the race on the outskirts of the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, making it a good temperature for running, but muddy in places with low visibility. The damp conditions also made the technical sections of rock tricky.&nbsp;
Taking on the 10km course that featured 710m of ascent, it was Omaya Atuya, the winner at Grossglocker and La Montee du Nid d&rsquo;Aigle, who led in the opening stages of the men&rsquo;s race. Josphat Kiprotich was a few seconds behind, ahead of Paul Machoka, with Michael Selelo Saoli 10 seconds further back.&nbsp;
By the second timing point it was all change. Kiprotich had taken the lead but it was incredibly close, with Omaya Atuya five seconds behind. There was another five seconds to Selelo Saoli, with Machoka right behind him. Former winner Timotej Becan lay in fifth place at that point, with just a minute separating the top five.&nbsp;
A trio of Italian runners &ndash; Andrea Elia, Alberto Vender and Tiziano Moia &ndash; sat just behind and the battle for places among the Italian runners was an interesting race in itself.&nbsp;
Omaya Atuya did catch Kiprotich in the final stages and he took the win in a race record of 41:30. Machoka secured second in 42:05 and Seleo Saoli third in 42:31. Kiprotich faded to fourth place (43:02), though this will still gain him valuable World Cup points, while Elia won the battle for fifth in 42:07.
In the women&rsquo;s race it was initially Scout Adkin who took the lead on approach to the first timing point, though Muthoni Njeru was right on her heels with one second separating them.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6701608c9776dadb328a473a.jpg" alt="Joyce Muthoni Njeru celebrates her Smarna Gora Race win" />
Joyce Muthoni Njeru celebrates her Smarna Gora Race win (&copy; WMRA / Marco Gulberti)
</div>
It was no surprise to see Philaries Jeruto Kisang and last year&rsquo;s winner Susanna Saapunki just behind them. Nusa Mali, who was third last year, was 10 seconds behind, while Alice Gaggi was also still in contention with the leading group.&nbsp;
By the second timing point Muthoni Njeru had overtaken Adkin and opened up a 40-second lead. Jeruto Kisang was a minute further back, with Mali in fourth, Gaggi in fifth and Saapunki dropped back to sixth.&nbsp;
Ultimately Muthoni Njeru could not be caught and she held off Adkin to win in 49:43. Adkin took second in 50:13, then there was a gap to Jeruto Kisang in third in 52:52. Saapunki fought her way back to take fourth in 53:21, with Mali just behind for fifth in 53:27.
Adkin was racing the morning after winning the&nbsp;Smarna Gora Record, a short blast uphill (1.85km with 360m of ascent). Luka Kovacic won the men's event.
With just two races to go, excitement is building in the World Cup competition. With today&rsquo;s point, Adkin has overtaken Jeruto Kisang to move into second place in the rankings. Muthoni Njeru has strengthened her position as leader with 288 points, but it is still possible for Adkin and Jeruto Kisang to catch her next weekend.&nbsp;
In the men&rsquo;s World Cup standings, the top four remain the same, but Omaya Atuya has overtaken Machoka to move into fifth place. It&rsquo;s all very close at the top, with Patrick Kipngeno on 235 points, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago on 227 and Kiprotich now on 216. It&rsquo;s all to play for in Chiavenna.&nbsp;
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics

Richard Omaya Atuya and Joyce Muthoni Njeru achieved a Kenyan double at the Smarna Gora Race

Omaya Atuya sets Smarna Gora Race record, Muthoni Njeru extends World Cup lead

Actor Yuji Oda has been appointed as the special ambassador for the Local Organising Committee of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 (WCH Tokyo 25), joining an impressive roster of athlete ambassadors including Haruka Kitaguchi, Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, Nozomi Tanaka, Asuka Terada and Yuki Hashioka.
Oda served as the main sportscaster for Japanese broadcaster TBS for 13 consecutive World Athletics Championships from 1997 to 2022. His deep passion for track and field, combined with his impactful storytelling, has made him a beloved figure among diverse audiences. As the special ambassador for the Local Organising Committee of WCH Tokyo 25, he will draw on his extensive experience, sharing the event's unique appeal and significance with a global audience.
Commenting on his appointment, Oda said: &ldquo;I am thrilled to be named as the special ambassador for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo &ndash; the world&rsquo;s biggest sporting event of 2025 and the first to be held in the city in 34 years. I look forward to sharing all the excitement and spirit of this incredible event with fans in the national stadium, across Japan and around the world.&rdquo;
The athlete ambassadors for the Local Organising Committee of WCH Tokyo 25 represent the shining stars of Japan&rsquo;s track and field scene, several of whom are fresh off participating at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with fans both at home and abroad eagerly anticipating their performances on home soil.
Haruka Kitaguchi, the reigning world champion in javelin, secured a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and has successfully defended her title at the Diamond League Finals for two consecutive years.
Abdul Hakim Sani Brown has established himself as a finalist in the men&rsquo;s 100m at two consecutive World Athletics Championships in Oregon and Budapest.
Nozomi Tanaka, the Japanese record-holder in both the women&rsquo;s 1500m and 5000m, is determined to make a strong showing in both events at the next championships in Tokyo.
Last year, Asuka Terada showcased her talent by winning the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles at the JAAF Athletics Championships.
Yuki Hashioka, who finished sixth in the long jump at the Tokyo Olympics, continues to make significant strides in his athletics journey.
Moving forward, both Oda and the athlete ambassadors will play an active role in engaging with fans and promoting the championships. From official events to media appearances and social media, they will share the excitement, rich history, and personal stories that make this event so special. Through their efforts, they will help spread the word about the WCH Tokyo 25 and build anticipation for what promises to be an unforgettable competition, ultimately aiming to fill the stadium with spectators and unite the world.
Taking place from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September 2025, the WCH Tokyo 25 will feature more than 2000 athletes from around 200 countries competing for medals across 49 disciplines.
&nbsp;
<h3>　 Special ambassador for the Local Organising Committee of WCH Tokyo 25</h3>
<h3>Yuji Oda</h3>
<h3><img src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6700971ece1172cb8634c7c6.jpg" alt="Yuji Oda" width="210" height="210" /></h3>
Japanese actor
Oda served as the main sportscaster for Japanese broadcaster TBS for 13 consecutive World Athletics Championships from 1997 to 2022. His deep passion for track and field, combined with his impactful storytelling, has made him a beloved figure among diverse audiences. As an ambassador for the Local Organising Committee of WCH Tokyo 25, he will draw on his extensive experience, sharing the event's unique appeal and significance with a global audience.
&nbsp;
<h3>　 Athlete ambassadors for the Local Organising Committee of WCH Tokyo 25</h3>
<h3>Haruka Kitaguchi</h3>
<img style="float: left;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6700989b833b38a16bd3d630.jpg" alt="Haruka Kitaguchi" width="210" height="197" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Javelin
・World Athletics Championships appearances: 3 ・Personal best: 67.38m (Diamond League Brussels, September 2023) national record ・World Athletics Championships: Budapest 23 (gold), Oregon 22 (bronze), Doha 19 ・Olympic Games: Paris 2024 (gold), Tokyo 2020
&nbsp;
<h3>Abdul Hakim Sani Brown</h3>
<img style="float: left;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/670098e69f299b95f94d5b22.jpg" alt="Abdul Hakim Sani Brown" width="210" height="210" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
100m, 200m, 4x100m
・World Athletics Championships appearances: 5 ・Personal bests: 　100m: 9.96 (Paris 2024 Olympic Games, August 2024) 　200m: 20.08 (NCAA Division I Championships, USA, June 2019) ・World Athletics Championships: Budapest 23 (6th in 100m / 5th in 4x100m), Oregon 22 (7th in 100m), Doha 19 (bronze in 4x100m) ・Olympic Games: Paris 2024 (5th in 4x100m), Tokyo 2020
&nbsp;
<h3>Nozomi Tanaka</h3>
<img style="float: left;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6700991b9f299b95f94d5b23.jpg" alt="Nozomi Tanaka" width="210" height="210" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
1500m, 5000m
・World Athletics Championships appearances: 3 ・Personal bests: 　1500m: 3:59.19 (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Aug 2021) national record 　5000m: 14:29.18 (Diamond League Brussels, Sep 2023) national record ・World Athletics Championships: Budapest 23 (8th in 5000m), Oregon 22, Doha 19 ・Olympic Games: Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020 (8th in 1500m)
&nbsp;
<h3>Asuka Terada</h3>
<img style="float: left;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/670099e1ab4375762035689a.jpg" alt="Asuka Terada" width="200" height="200" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
100m hurdles
・World Athletics Championships appearances: 3 ・Personal best:12.86 (KIMANI Michitaka Memorial Athletics Meet, May 2023) ・World Athletics Championships: Budapest 23, Doha 19 ・Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020
&nbsp;
<h3>Yuki Hashioka</h3>
<img style="float: left;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/67009a02ab4375762035689b.jpg" alt="Yuki Hashioka" width="200" height="200" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Long jump
・World Championships appearances: 3 ・Personal best: 8.36m (JAAF Athletics Championships, June 2021) ・World Athletics Championships: Budapest 23, Oregon 22, Doha 19 (8th place) ・Olympic Games: Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020 (6th place)

World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025

Actor Yuji Oda and athletes Haruka Kitaguchi, Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, Nozomi Tanaka, Asuka Terada and Yuki Hashioka are ambassadors for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25

Ambassadors for WCH Tokyo 25 announced

One of the most iconic streets of Madrid, Gran V&iacute;a, will be the venue for the Gran Premio Internacional Madrid Marcha Silb&ouml; Telecom &ndash; the last Gold event of this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Race Walking Tour &ndash; on Sunday (6).
Before the races get under way, Spain&rsquo;s world and Olympic champion &Aacute;lvaro Mart&iacute;n will receive a warm tribute shortly after announcing his retirement. Two-time European medallist Diego Garcia, Martin&rsquo;s long-time domestic rival, will again be the driving force behind Sunday' competition as the elite athlete coordinator.
The men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s 10km races, which will be held at the same time over a one-kilometre circuit, feature race walkers from 15 different countries.
Two-time world champion Toshikazu Yamanishi is among the leading contenders in the men&rsquo;s race. The 28-year-old from Japan is fresh from a commanding 38:27:34 victory over 10,000m two weeks ago in Yamaguchi. The 2021 Olympic bronze medallist missed out on earning selection for the Paris Games at the highly competitive Japanese Trials, but he rebounded in La Coruna in May when he won in 1:17:47, beating the three men who went on to earn the medals in Paris.
Yamanishi&rsquo;s toughest opposition will come from the three podium finishers at this year&rsquo;s European Championships: Sweden&rsquo;s Perseus Karlstr&ouml;m, Spain&rsquo;s Paul Mc Grath and Italy&rsquo;s Francesco Fortunato.
Karlstrom took the individual 20km title at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Antalya in April but then finished 21st in Paris.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy with the season overall, and despite the complications at the Olympics, I would still rate this season my best one to date,&rdquo; said Karlstrom, who holds the course record in Madrid at 38:42. &ldquo;I have never had this high level of competitiveness before and managed to win most of my races. I competed in Rome after catching Covid and fortunately it only blew up after the race. But then I also suffered first a viral infection and then a sinus infection just a few days before the Olympics, that&rsquo;s the reason I could not compete well there.
&ldquo;Madrid is a great race, I really love it as It showcases my discipline in the centre of a big city and makes the race easily accessible for the audience, which is key to gather big crowds,&rdquo; added the world silver medallist. &ldquo;Obviously I&rsquo;m not still at my peak at this early stage of the season but 10km makes it doable and very exciting and intense.&rdquo;
Fortunato, the winner in Madrid last year, competed over 10,000m in Modena two weeks ago with a 39:46.88 winning performance. He will be joined by his compatriot Gianluca Picchiottino, a 1:20:46 performer who placed 12th in Antalya.
Also watch out for Diego Garc&iacute;a, runner-up here in 2022 and the third-place finisher in Antalya, who&rsquo;ll be combining roles as organiser and athlete. His training mate &Aacute;lvaro L&oacute;pez, who set a 20km lifetime best of 1:20.20 in Antalya, should also contend for a top-five berth.
The women&rsquo;s event features European champion Antonella Palmisano and Colombia&rsquo;s Sandra Lorena Arenas.
The 33-year-old Italian will be eager to improve on her 13th place from last year when she resumed competition after a string of injuries in 2022. The world bronze medallist enjoyed an emphatic win in front of her home crowd at the European Championships in Rome in July but was forced to drop out of the 20km at the Paris Olympics with just seven kilometres to go.
Arenas will be competing in Madrid for the first time. The 2021 Olympic silver medallist finished fourth at this year&rsquo;s Games in Paris, but was rewarded with a PB of 1:27:03. She and Palmisano could have their eye on Qieyang Shenjie&rsquo;s course record of 43:07.
Spanish hopes rest with Laura Garc&iacute;a-Caro. The 29-year-old was seventh at the Paris Olympics and fourth at the European Championships, having been overtaken just inches before the finish line. She will be joined by compatriots Ant&iacute;a Chamosa and 2022 European 35km silver medallist Raquel Gonz&aacute;lez.
Weather forecasters predict a partially cloudy day, with the temperature about 22&deg;C by the time of the event.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

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