World-leading meeting records were set by Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Femke Bol at Herculis, but perhaps the biggest talking point came from Noah Lyles, who won the 200m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday (11).
The Olympic 100m champion hadn&rsquo;t raced since April due to minor injury issues in his ankle, but any questions over the US sprinter&rsquo;s form were answered swiftly within the space of 20 seconds after the gun fired for the men&rsquo;s 200m.
Lyles, who was drawn in lane seven, just one lane outside Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, got a solid start and was level with the world leader as they came off the bend. The multiple world champion showed no signs of rustiness as he held his form well in the closing stages, pulling away from Tebogo to win in 19.88. Tebogo was second in 19.97, just 0.02 ahead of Zimbabwe&rsquo;s Makanakaishe Charamba.
Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi lived up to expectations in what was arguably the toughest test of his career so far. Not only did the men&rsquo;s 800m reunite all eight finalists from the 2024 Olympics, it also had the addition of world indoor champion Josh Hoey and Oceanian record-holder Peter Bol.
Wanyonyi tracked the pacemaker through the first half as 400m was covered in 49.21, 0.07 quicker than David Rudisha&rsquo;s first lap when the legendary Kenyan set his world record. Once the pacemaker dropped out, Wanyonyi held the lead until the end and pulled away from Hoey, who was doing his best to hold off Algeria&rsquo;s Djamel Sedjati.
Wanyonyi crossed the line in 1:41.44, shaving 0.02 from the meeting record Sedjati set last year and racking up his sixth career sub-1:42 clocking &ndash; just one shy of Rudisha&rsquo;s record tally. Hoey was second in a PB of 1:42.01 with Sedjati placing third (1:42.20). Bol came through to set an Oceanian record of 1:42.55 in fourth, one place ahead of world champion Marco Arop (1:42.73).
Like fellow Herculis debutant Wanyonyi, Femke Bol also ensured her first Monaco appearance was a good one. The world champion bided her time in the women&rsquo;s 400m hurdles and pulled away gradually from former world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad to win in a world-leading 51.95, breaking one of the oldest track meeting records at Herculis.
Muhammad was second in a season&rsquo;s best of 52.58, also inside the previous meeting record set by Lashina Demus back in 2009. Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell was third in 52.91, also a season&rsquo;s best.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68717152d15cca9e1af1c846.jpg" alt="Femke Bol wins the 400m hurdles in Monaco" />
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Femke Bol wins the 400m hurdles in Monaco (&copy; Wanda Diamond League <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Chiara Montesano)
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Nelly Chepchirchir maintained her undefeated record in 2025 to win the women&rsquo;s 1000m in one of the fastest times in history.
The Kenyan, no doubt inspired by the recent record-breaking feats of compatriots Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, sat back in the field during the early stages, allowing Jessica Hull to take the leading spot behind the pacemaker.
Chepchirchir moved up in the second half and took the lead just before 800m, reached in 1:58.41, still inside world record pace. The record slipped out of her grasp in the final stages, but Chepchirchir pulled away from the field to win in 2:29.77, elevating her to fourth on the world all-time list.
USA&rsquo;s Addison Wiley came through for second place in a North American record of 2:30.71 with Hull finishing third in an Oceanian record of 2:30.96.
Yomif Kejelcha was similarly dominant in the men&rsquo;s 5000m. The two-time world indoor champion led through 3000m in 7:39.47 with Sweden&rsquo;s Andreas Almgren close behind, but he dropped out soon after.
Kejelcha, meanwhile, then pulled away from his remaining opponents and won comfortably in 12:49.46, his third consecutive sub-12:50 time this year. France&rsquo;s Jimmy Gressier came through for second place in 12:53.36 ahead of Bahrain&rsquo;s Birhanu Balew (12.53.51). In fourth, Mohamed Abdilaahi broke the long-standing German record with 12:53.63.
In the 400m flat, world and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino had to call upon all of her strength in the home straight to reel in Aaliyah Butler. Paulino caught the US youngster just before the line to win in 49.06, while Butler was rewarded with a PB of 49.09 in second. Jamaica&rsquo;s Nickisha Pryce (49.63) and Olympic bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka (49.72) set season&rsquo;s bests in third and fourth.
Paulino wasn&rsquo;t the only world and Olympic champion who had to pull out something special to hold on to victory. Morocco&rsquo;s Soufiane El Bakkali had initially tried to attack the world record in the men&rsquo;s 3000m steeplechase. He carved out a huge lead at the half-way point but his pace then began to fade.
On the final lap, Japan&rsquo;s Ryuji Miura started motoring and even caught El Bakalli at the top of the home straight, but the Moroccan responded and sprinted to the finish line in 8:03.18. Miura was rewarded with a huge national record of 8:03.43 and Kenya&rsquo;s Edmund Serem set a PB of 8:04.00 in third.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68717122d15cca9e1af1c843.jpg" alt="Ryuji Miura and Soufiane El Bakkali in the steeplechase in Monaco" />
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Ryuji Miura and Soufiane El Bakkali in the steeplechase in Monaco (&copy; Wanda Diamond League <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Chiara Montesano)
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<h2>Convincing wins for Alfred, Tapper and Cunningham</h2>
Olympic champion Julien Alfred returned to winning ways after her recent surprise defeat in Eugene. The St Lucian sprinter trailed USA&rsquo;s Jacious Sears at the start of the women&rsquo;s 100m, but came through strongly to win in 10.79, running into a -1.4m/s headwind. Sears held on for second in 11.02.
Megan Tapper equalled her recent PB of 12.34 to take a surprise victory in the women&rsquo;s 100m hurdles. Ditaji Kambundji was second in 12.43 in a race where Olympic champion Masai Russell (12.57) and US compatriot Grace Stark (12.64) struggled over the early barriers.
USA&rsquo;s 2022 world silver medallist Trey Cunningham notched up his second Diamond League victory in a row, following on from his win in Paris last month. The 26-year-old put together a near faultless run to lead a US 1-2-3 in 13.09 from world leader Cordell Tinch (13.14) and 19-year-old Ja&rsquo;Kobe Tharp (13.17), who was making his Diamond League debut.
<h2>Meeting record for Duplantis, world leads for Scott and Sanghyeok</h2>
All three jumping events on the programme produced notable performances.
Pole vault superstar Mondo Duplantis won the men&rsquo;s pole vault and claimed the meeting record with a winning clearance of 6.05m. There are now just two Diamond League meeting records (Rabat and London) left for the Swede to claim. Greece&rsquo;s Emmanouil Karalis and Australia&rsquo;s Kurtis Marschall were second and third respectively, both clearing 5.92m.
Jamaica&rsquo;s Jordan Scott continued his strong run of form to win the men&rsquo;s triple jump. He set a PB of 17.44m in round five then improved in the final round to 17.52m &ndash; the farthest outdoor jump in the world this year. Algeria&rsquo;s Yasser Triki was second (17.23m).
World indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok also produced the best outdoor jump in the world this year, winning the men&rsquo;s high jump with 2.34m. Czechia&rsquo;s Jan Stefela was second with 2.32m.
European champion Jessica Schilder uncorked a final-round effort of 20.39m to win the women&rsquo;s shot put from world champion Chase Jackson (20.06m) and world indoor champion Sarah Mitton (20.00m).

Meeting International d’Athlétisme Herculis EBS

World-leading meeting records were set by Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Femke Bol at Herculis, but perhaps the biggest talking point came from Noah Lyles, who won the 200m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday (11).

Lyles back with a bang in Monaco

Phyllis Green&rsquo;s milestone of becoming the first woman to clear five feet in the high jump is not as celebrated as the likes of Roger Bannister&rsquo;s first sub-four-minute mile, but it remains a hugely important landmark.
This feat has its centenary on Friday 11 July and provides an opportunity to reflect on the short but spectacular career of a super-talented teenager from south London who briefly became a sporting celebrity in the 1920s.
Green joined the London Olympiades Athletic Club, the first women-only club in Great Britain which had been formed in 1921, in either late 1924 or early 1925 and was probably inspired by the growing attention given to women&rsquo;s athletics, changes in the social climate, as well as a supportive father who himself had been a club athlete.
After winning myriad athletics prizes at Peckham High School for Girls, in what appears to be her first ever outing for her club, the 17-year-old Green cleared 4&rsquo;11&frac12;&rdquo; (1.51m) on 6 June 1925, an era when British competitions were measured in feet and inches.
&ldquo;A wonderful new girl athlete was discovered during the women's inter-club athletic contest at Stamford Bridge [in west London] on Saturday,&rdquo; eulogised the British newspaper the Daily Mirror, alongside photos of her on their front page. &ldquo;Though she is only just over 17 and was competing for the first time at an open meeting, Miss Phyllis Green broke world record.&rdquo;
In fact, it actually equalled the mark of Belgium&rsquo;s Ellen van Truyen from the previous year, but it would be little more than a month before Green made the record her own.
<h2>Celebrity status</h2>
Her instant fame was such that the Daily Mirror even despatched a photographer to take pictures of her the following week while she was on holiday at the seaside.
However, Green was back in action on 5 July, representing London in an inter-city match involving Brussels and Paris in the Belgian capital and once again cleared 1.51m. One week later, she returned to Stamford Bridge &ndash; on the grounds of what is now the home to two-time Champions League winners and Premier League powerhouse Chelsea &ndash; for the third edition of the Wormen&rsquo;s Amateur Athletics Association (WAAA) Championships and duly made history by clearing 5&rsquo;0&rdquo; (1.524m).
&ldquo;For that marvellous moment, even as you realise that you have cleared that far greater height than your fellow competitors, you feel as though you are in the clouds trailing glory behind you. I can&rsquo;t imagine anything that is comparable with this experience,&rdquo; she wrote, almost predicting her record, when writing in the Daily Express the previous week in a column entitled &lsquo;Sports Thrill for Girls&rsquo;.
Finishing off her superlative summer, Green took maximum points for Great Britain in a match against Canada and Czechoslovakia when clearing 4&rsquo;10&rdquo; (1.47m), again making the front pages of several newspapers.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6870e346ce38ae830f830030.jpg" alt="Phyllis Green" />
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Phyllis Green (&copy; Courtesy of Bourne Hall Museum)
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<h2>Sweet charity in Chiswick</h2>
She went on to even greater heights in the following two years and commanded plenty more headlines.
Green won both the high and long jump at the 1926 WAAA Championships and later that summer, at the Chiswick Charity Sports on 2 August, she cleared 5&rsquo;1⅛&rdquo; (1.5526m) to improve her own official world record.
Sadly, for reasons that are not clear, she was not part of the small British team that competed at the 1926 Women's World Games in Stockholm later that month, a competition won by France&rsquo;s Helene Bons with 1.50m. However, Green continued to ascend upwards in 1927.
At the WAAA Championships in Reading, she won the high jump for the third consecutive year, clearing 5&rsquo;2&frac14; from a grass take off, a mark which was to ultimately to be her personal best.
Translating metrically to 1.58m, Green&rsquo;s jump theoretically equalled the world record of Canada&rsquo;s Ethel Catherwood but it was not ratified by the France-based International Women's Sports Federation &ndash; which governed women&rsquo;s athletics at the time before the International Amateur Athletic Federation brought it under its aegis in 1934 &ndash; as it was &sup3;&frasl;₁₆ths of an inch less than Catherwood had jumped in a local competition in September 1926.
And then Green disappeared from the sport almost as meteorically as she appeared just two years earlier.
No records exist of Green ever competing again after the end of 1927 and she did not make it to the 1928 Olympic Games. If she had competed in Amsterdam, she would have gone head to head with Catherwood, who eventually won the gold medal with a leap of 1.60m (re-measured and ratified at 1.595m) and would also have had a tilt at the accolade of Britain&rsquo;s first woman athlete to win an Olympic medal, an honour eventually achieved by their 4x100m team who finished third four years later in Los Angeles.
<h2>Mysterious disappearance</h2>
Why Green suddenly retired from the sport she was so successful at, despite still being only 19, remains unanswered to this day.
Local historians in Ewell, the town close to London where Green lived for many years from the late 1930s until she died in 1999, have recently been delving into her family archives. They have speculated, with some substance, that it may have been to help with her family&rsquo;s increasingly successful undertaking business. After all, despite her celebrity, there were no shoe contracts, no sponsorship and no appearance fees for women athletes in the 1920s.
Six feet in imperial measurement was subsequently scaled when the Romanian legend Iolanda Balas cleared 1.83m in 1958 while seven feet (2.14m) now beckons after Yaroslava Mahuchikh improved the world record to 2.10m last year. But Phyllis Green will always have her place as one of the early icons of women&rsquo;s athletics.
Phil Minshull for World Athletics Heritage (With thanks to Sue Dalloe and Vicky Rowley at the Bourne Hall Museum for their assistance)

Phyllis Green’s milestone of becoming the first woman to clear five feet in the high jump is not as celebrated as the likes of Roger Bannister’s first sub-four-minute mile, but it remains a hugely important landmark.

The short, spectacular career of Phyllis Green - the first woman to high jump five feet

As the countdown to the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 continues, we shine a spotlight on some of the podium sweeps that have lit up past editions of the global showpiece.
This five-part series launches with a look back at Ethiopia&rsquo;s dominance in the women&rsquo;s 5000m in Helsinki in 2005.
------
The 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, holds particular significance in the history of sweeps. Not only were podium sweeps achieved in three events, but in two of those &ndash; the women&rsquo;s 5000m and the men&rsquo;s 200m &ndash; the top four spots were secured by athletes from the same nation: a feat never before achieved at the World Championships.
After leading an all-Ethiopian podium in the women&rsquo;s 10,000m, Tirunesh Dibaba returned to head the first ever women&rsquo;s World Championships 1-2-3-4 in the 5000m. At the age of 19, she became the first woman to complete the 5000m and 10,000m double.
As well as making history with its &lsquo;foursweep&rsquo; and Dibaba double, the women&rsquo;s 5000m featured one of the best rivalries in women&rsquo;s international long-distance running. While notable Ethiopian women came before and after Dibaba and Meseret Defar, their legacies carry weight in the country today as thousands of young women began running after seeing their success on television or hearing about it on the radio.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68701350e449dac6c1c98509.jpg" alt="The women's 5000m final at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki" />
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The women's 5000m final at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki (&copy; Getty Images)
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After winning her first world 5000m title as a 17-year-old in Paris in 2003, Dibaba eyed the double in Helsinki. First up was the 10,000m final on 6 August, which she won ahead of her compatriots Berhane Adere and Ejegayehu Dibaba, Tirunesh&rsquo;s older sister. Many, however, were more excited for her face off against Defar in the 5000m. Defar wanted to claim the world title in her Olympic gold medal event, and Tirunesh&nbsp;wanted to become the first woman to prevail in both the 5000m &ndash; for which she had a wild card entry as the defending champion &ndash; and the 10,000m.
The early stages of the race were conservative, with China's Sun Yingjie leading the charge. The field passed through 3000m in 8:52.62 and 4000m in 11:52.40. Conserving their energy, the four Ethiopian athletes in the race began to break away from the rest of the pack throughout the last kilometre. Defar took the lead with 400 metres to go, and Tirunesh unleashed a final kick over the last 150 metres to win in a championship record of 14:38.59. Defar finished second in 14:39.54, Ejegayehu Dibaba in third in 14:42.47 and Meselech Melkamu in fourth in 14:43.47.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/68701314e449dac6c1c98506.jpg" alt="Ejegayehu Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meselech Melkamu in Helsinki" />
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Ejegayehu Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meselech Melkamu in Helsinki (&copy; Getty Images)
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This top four sweep did more than just cement Ethiopia&rsquo;s women&rsquo;s distance runners as a dominant force. It also paved the way for the Defar-Dibaba rivalry to ramp up even further in the following years. In 2006, the two met seven times. Tirunesh won four of them, but Defar led the overall count at that point and beat her rival for the Golden League victory. In Ethiopia, houses and neighbourhoods became divided as the country&rsquo;s athletics fans watch the two duel it out on a frequent basis. Defar set the first of her two world 5000m records in 2006 and a few years later, Tirunesh lowered it to 14:11.15 &ndash; a mark that stood for 12 years.&nbsp;
The two would go on to win several more world and Olympic medals, and ultimately faced each other 32 times in their careers &ndash; Defar winning 19 times to Tirunesh&rsquo;s 13.&nbsp;
While fierce rivals, they collectively &ndash; together with the other women who joined them on multiple major podiums &ndash; cemented Ethiopian women&rsquo;s running as a deep force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
Hannah Borenstein for World Athletics
&nbsp;

World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025

The 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki holds particular significance in the history of sweeps

Sensational sweeps: Ethiopia in the women's 5000m at the 2005 World Championships

The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, officially opened the MOWA Heritage Athletics Exhibition Tokyo 2025 on Sunday (6). The exhibition is being staged for 11 weeks in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) building.

Governor Koike opens MOWA exhibition as Tokyo is awarded Heritage Plaque

World 1500m record-holder Faith Kipyegon will step up to the 3000m in Silesia, while Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan will drop down to the mile in London, organisers of the Wanda Diamond League meetings have announced.
Kenya&rsquo;s Kipyegon improved her own world 1500m record to 3:48.68 in Eugene earlier this month and the world mile record-holder ran the fastest mile in history by a woman in an unofficial and unratifiable exhibition event in Paris in June. Now she prepares to race the 3000m at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial on 16 August.
The multiple world 1500m and 5000m gold medallist has a 3000m PB of 8:23.55 but that was set back in 2014 when Kipyegon was just 20. Since then, she has claimed three Olympic 1500m titles and her 5000m PB of 14:05.20 was also a world record when she ran it in 2023.
Also announced for Silesia are Femke Bol and Karsten Warholm in the 400m hurdles, Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers in the hammer, Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem in the javelin, Julien Alfred in the 100m and Grant Holloway in the 110m hurdles.
While Hassan is now an Olympic gold medallist in the 5000m, 10,000m and marathon, she is also a former world record-holder in the mile and it is that shorter distance she will contest at the London Athletics Meet on 19 July.
The Dutch star has secured success in London in the past, taking victory on her marathon debut in 2023 before finishing third in the 2025 event. She last competed on the track in the London Athletics Meet in 2023, finishing third in the 5000m in a European record of 14:13.42.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve learned so much about myself racing in London, both on the road and the track, and I&rsquo;m excited to return and to compete again at the Olympic stadium,&rdquo; said Hassan, whose 4:12.33 mile time from Monaco in 2019 remains the European record.
&ldquo;Last year my curiosity pushed me to take a risk and compete in three distances at the Paris Games. I know I&rsquo;m probably a bit crazy to mix it up so much, but I like the combination of track and road and I want to see what is possible,&rdquo; added the 32-year-old, who claimed Olympic 5000m and 10,000m bronze as well as marathon gold last year. &ldquo;Now that the London Marathon is over, I will be returning to shorter distances for the track season. I enjoy these different races, tactics and distances, and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do in the Diamond League mile in London.&rdquo;

World 1500m record-holder Faith Kipyegon will step up to the 3000m in Silesia, while Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan will drop down to the mile in London

Kipyegon set for Silesia 3000m, Hassan for London mile

All eight finalists from the men&rsquo;s 800m at the Paris Olympic Games will clash again at the Herculis EBS Meeting, providing what looks set to be one of the highlights of the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Monaco on Friday (11).
It&rsquo;s one of eight disciplines in Monaco in which the Olympic champion is set to compete. The men's 200m, meanwhile, boasts two Olympic gold medallists in the form of Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo.
Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi heads to Monaco off the back of two wins on the Diamond League circuit, topped by his world-leading 1:41.95 run in Stockholm last month &ndash; the fifth sub-1:42 clocking of his career. But this Friday&rsquo;s race could be the toughest test of his season so far as he takes on the two men who joined him on the Paris podium last year: Canada&rsquo;s Marco Arop and Algeria&rsquo;s Djamel Sedjati.
Arop, the world champion, is undefeated over 800m this year, but he hasn&rsquo;t contested any Diamond League races so far this season. Sedjati, the winner in Monaco last year in a meeting record of 1:41.46, finished second to Wanyonyi in Stockholm last month, clocking a season&rsquo;s best of 1:42.27, his fastest time since the Olympic final.
The field also includes two other men who broke 1:42 last year: France&rsquo;s Gabriel Tual and USA&rsquo;s Bryce Hoppel. The addition of world indoor champion Josh Hoey, Botswana's Tshepiso Masalela, Spain's Mohamed Attaoui and Algeria&rsquo;s Slimane Moula means there&rsquo;ll be nine men with sub-1:43 PBs on the start line.
World and Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles will make his highly anticipated Diamond League debut. The 27-year-old opened his outdoor season in April with a low-key appearance over 400m (45.87) but was forced to delay the start of his international campaign due to some ankle troubles.
He won't have it easy, though, as he'll be up against the man who beat him to the Olympic 200m title last year: Botswana&rsquo;s Letsile Tebogo. The 22-year-old, who clocked a world-leading 19.76 in Eugene last weekend, will be looking for a repeat performance of last year&rsquo;s Monaco victory in a race that also features Alexander Ogando and Jereem Richards.
The Olympic podium will be reunited in the men&rsquo;s pole vault with world record-holder Mondo Duplantis taking on Sam Kendricks and Emmanouil Karalis &ndash; three of the seven men in the field with PBs higher than six metres. Duplantis has been beaten in two of his three Monaco appearances to date, and Monaco remains one of just three Diamond League meetings in which the Swede doesn&rsquo;t hold the meeting record.
The world champion will no doubt have his eye on Piotr Lisek&rsquo;s meeting record of 6.02m, and if the conditions are good, he could even look to improve on the 6.28m world record he set in Stockholm last month.
Numerous global champions will clash in the other two field events. Following a high-standard competition in Eugene last week, two-time world champion Chase Jackson renews her rivalry with world indoor champion Sarah Mitton, Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye and European champion Jessica Schilder.
In the men&rsquo;s high jump, Olympic champion Hamish Kerr takes on world indoor champion Woo Sanghyeok, Olympic silver medallist Shelby McEwen and world leader Jan Stefela of Czechia.
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred will be looking for a second successive Herculis victory after winning in Monaco last year with 10.85. The St Lucian has a best this year of 10.75, though her 10.77 clocking into a -1.5m/s headwind in Eugene last weekend suggests she&rsquo;s capable of going much faster. She&rsquo;ll face Jamaican twins Tia and Tina Clayton as well as USA&rsquo;s Jacious Sears, who ran 10.85 last weekend.
World and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, competing in Monaco for the first time, headlines a women&rsquo;s 400m field that includes Olympic bronze medallist Natalia Bukowiecka, NCAA champion Aaliyah Butler, Diamond League record-holder Nickisha Pryce and Chile&rsquo;s Martina Weil.
In the women's 100m hurdles, Olympic champion Masai Russell takes on Grace Stark &ndash; winner at the Paris Diamond League last month in 12.21 &ndash; and 2021 Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper.
World champion Femke Bol takes on former world record-holder Dalilah Muhammad, Olympic silver medallist Anna Cockrell and Jamaica&rsquo;s Andrenette Knight in the women's 400m hurdles.
Elsewhere on the track, the four fastest men in the world this year clash in the 110m hurdles: US quartet Cordell Tinch, Trey Cunningham, Dylan Beard and Ja'Kobe Tharp.
Winners of three recent Diamond League races will clash in a high-quality men&rsquo;s 5000m, racing on the track where the current world record was set. Sweden&rsquo;s Andreas Almgren, winner of the 5000m in Stockholm in a European record of 12:44.27, takes on Paris Diamond League winner Yomif Kejelcha and Eugene 10,000m winner Biniam Mehary in a field where eight men have PBs faster than 12:50.
Elsewhere, Kenneth Rooks and Abraham Kibiwot, the Olympic silver and bronze medallists respectively, lead a men&rsquo;s 3000m steeplechase field that also includes in-form German Frederik Ruppert, Xiamen Diamond League winner Samuel Firewu and Kenyan duo Simon Koech and Edmund Serem.

All eight finalists from the men’s 800m at the Paris Olympic Games will clash again at the Herculis EBS Meeting

Fireworks expected in Olympic 800m rematch in Monaco

Five content creators and 27 sports media professionals have been selected for the Content Creator Programme and the World Athletics Media Academy, respectively, as World Athletics aims to nurture the next generation of talent.
By addressing critical gaps in talent, diversity and expertise, the Media Academy is designed to ensure a bright future for the storytelling of athletics &ndash; in journalism, photography and broadcast commentary.
Running alongside this is the Content Creator Programme, which was established in 2023 and has become a launch pad for content creators within the sport &ndash; providing a platform for talented creatives on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.
The inaugural edition of the Media Academy will take centre stage during the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 in September, when the 27 selected journalists, photographers and TV commentators will have the unique opportunity of covering the prestigious event in person.
The journalist section of the initiative is delivered in partnership with the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), offering young reporters the chance to develop their skills in Tokyo where they will be guided by leading international mentors. The participants were chosen following an online part of the project that launched in February.
The photographer workshop, in collaboration with Sony, will see 11 young professionals learn from some of the world&rsquo;s best athletics photographers and news agencies in Tokyo, to sharpen their visual storytelling skills covering athletics.
The TV commentator programme will involve aspiring broadcasters being mentored by seasoned commentators, gaining hands-on experience and insight into live athletics production during the championships.
This multifaceted Media Academy underlines World Athletics&rsquo; commitment to fostering high-quality global coverage of the sport by investing directly in the next generation of athletics media professionals. In total, 27 participants &ndash; 14 women and 13 men &ndash; from 19 countries across all continental areas are represented. They include AIPS Young Reporters Programme finalists and former track stars such as Olympic champions Wilfred Bungei and Tonique Williams, as they aim to kick off their international broadcast careers.
<h2>World Athletics Media Academy class of 2025</h2>
Journalism: Camila Alves (BRA), Louis Boulay (FRA), Andjela Cegar (AUT) Anushe Engineer (PAK), Beatrice Go (PHI), Nika Aurora Kljucaric (CRO), Martin Moses (KEN), Pierre Pillet (SUI), Annika Saunus (GER), Ainhoa Serrano (ESP), Jasmine Trapnell (GBR), Lucijan Zalokar (SLO)
Photography: Hassan Omar Wamwayi (UGA), Diogo Cardoso (POR), Birgit Dieryck (BEL), Anastasia Karekla (CYP), Mate Ladjanszki (HUN), Annabel Lee-Ellis (GBR), Kenichiro Ogane (JPN), Will Palmer (GBR), Pamela Smith (USA), Ross Turteltaub (USA), Eric Wu (AUS)
Commentary: Wilfred Bungei (KEN), Martin Keino (KEN), Rosie Tinbergen (GBR), Tonique Williams (BAH)
Five more creatives will have their work showcased on World Athletics&rsquo; digital channels following their selection to the Content Creator Programme.
More than 800 applications from all around the world were received for the Content Creator Programme following the 2025 launch in April and the five selected creatives &ndash; from five different countries &ndash; will now create TikTok, YouTube and Instagram content for World Athletics&rsquo; platforms.
<h2>Content Creator Programme class of 2025</h2>
Ajay Allen (USA) A cinematographer and filmmaker, and a student athlete hurdler at the University of Missouri&ndash;Kansas City.
Leila Gammouh (FRA) A photographer and social media expert.
Fette (Jorge Larco) (ECU) An illustrator best known for his cycling illustrations, exploring a new interest in athletics.
Sikhalo Mguni (GBR) A full-time engineer and rising athletics content creator with a lot of passion for the sport.
Herbert Thomas (JAM) A filmmaker and photographer with a lifelong passion for athletics.
World Athletics

Five content creators and 27 sports media professionals have been selected for the Content Creator Programme and the World Athletics Media Academy

World Athletics Media Academy and Content Creator Programme welcome class of 2025

<div>The countdown is under way with less than 200 days to go until the top cross-country athletes from around the globe arrive in the United States to converge on Tallahassee, Florida&rsquo;s capital city. The official logo has now been revealed, and excitement is building to &lsquo;Welcome the World&rsquo; to Florida for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on 10 January 2026.</div>
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The logo reveal marks another thrilling step in Tallahassee&rsquo;s preparation to host the 2026 championships. The colourful design reflects Florida&rsquo;s beauty, energy and distinct character. Tallahassee, with its iconic sunshine and rolling hills of various terrain, dispels the common perception that all of Florida is flat. The WXC Tallahassee 26 logo highlights Florida&rsquo;s global identity as the Sunshine State, and features an orange, the state fruit, and orange blossoms, the state flower, reflecting Florida&rsquo;s deep agricultural heritage. The lush greenery includes the sabal palm, Florida&rsquo;s official state tree, reinforcing Tallahassee&rsquo;s scenic natural beauty and its 700 miles of trails. The depiction of water represents Florida&rsquo;s abundant rivers, lakes and expansive coastline statewide.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/686bd1f49941422cb37046cc.jpg" alt="WXC Tallahassee 26 logo" />
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Apalachee Regional Park and its nationally renowned cross-country course will serve as the championship venue, proudly hosting the athletes and spectators from around the globe. Apalachee Regional Park has hosted more than 75 national, state and local cross-country championships over the past 13 years.
The championship course was designed by runners for runners, and winds through lush grass, crushed oyster shell, red clay, over rolling hills and through pine forests. It is an outstanding course that will stimulate and challenge competitors and inspire and engage spectators. Apalachee Regional Park is named in honour of the Apalachee, a large and powerful tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Tallahassee region for more than 10,000 years.
The World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 promises to deliver an outstanding championship experience unlike no other.
"Tallahassee, Florida, has a long and rich history as a running community, and especially cross-country," said Kerri L Post, Executive Director for Visit Tallahassee. "Our community is united through the power of sports to showcase our area&rsquo;s beauty, friendly spirit, our hospitality, our culture and the pride we take in hosting this prestigious championship event and Welcoming the World to Tallahassee, Florida.&rdquo;
The World Cross Country Championships is the oldest World Athletics Series competition on the calendar; the forerunner to this event, the International Cross Country Championships, was first held in 1903. This, the 46th edition of the World Cross, marks a return to the United States for the first time since 1992, when Boston hosted the event. New York also staged the competition in 1984.
More than 400 athletes from 45 nations &ndash; including the Athlete Refugee Team &ndash; will compete across five crowd-pleasing races: the men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s U20 and senior races, as well as the mixed relay.
Stay tuned for ways to get involved, including ticket sales and fun run registrations, coming soon.
For information about the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, please visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wxctallahassee26.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wxctallahassee26.com</a>&nbsp;
For media inquiries, please reach out to <a href="mailto:VTPR@zimmerman.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VTPR@zimmerman.com</a>.
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46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships

The World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 reveals a vibrant new logo celebrating Florida’s lush landscapes, deep springs, and bold skies. Discover the story behind the design.

WXC Tallahassee 26 logo revealed

Puerto Rico&rsquo;s Ayden Owens-Delerme won the decathlon on his Decastar debut, while Colombia&rsquo;s Martha Araujo clinched her second consecutive heptathlon crown at the World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold meeting in Talence on Saturday and Sunday (5-6).
Owens-Delerme scored 8478 to triumph by 242 points ahead of defending champion Johannes Erm of Estonia, while Araujo retained her title ahead of USA&rsquo;s Taliyah Brooks and Michelle Atherley by scoring 6451.
Owens-Delerme took an early lead in the decathlon with a 10.48 run in the 100m, but Kendrick Thompson of The Bahamas moved into top spot after the long jump, leaping 7.70m to Owens-Delerme&rsquo;s 7.44m.
The Puerto Rican regained pole position thanks to a 16.13m heave in the shot put, but again it was short-lived as France&rsquo;s Teo Bastien jumped to the top of the standings after clearing 2.06m in the high jump.
Owens-Delerme ran a meeting record of 46.43 in the 400m to finish the day with a leading tally of 4469 and that was a position that he wouldn&rsquo;t relinquish. Thompson covered a lap of the track in 48.56 to move into second place, while Erm&rsquo;s 48.13 was one of the fastest of the day and the Estonian sat in fourth place overnight behind Bastien.
Owens-Delerme picked up from where he left off, winning the first event of day two &ndash; the 110m hurdles &ndash; in 13.72. Thompson clocked 14.19 and Bastien 14.26 and that meant they held on to their podium positions after six events, remaining ahead of Erm and Belgium&rsquo;s Jente Hauttekeete, who were separated by just two points at that stage.
Estonia&rsquo;s Rasmus Roosleht left it late but after two fouls he managed 47.77m from his third and final attempt in the discus to top that event and move into fifth place overall behind Owens-Delerme (44.38m), Bastien (43.58m), Erm (46.02m) and Thompson (39.98m).
Hauttekeete was in sixth place and Germany&rsquo;s 2019 world champion Niklas Kaul was seventh, but that would prove to be the final event for Kaul as he did not return for the pole vault, javelin or 1500m.
Erm, Hauttekeete, Bastien and Estonia&rsquo;s Risto Lillemets all managed 4.93m in the pole vault but Owens-Delerme held on to top spot after clearing 4.73m &ndash; 178 points ahead with two events to go.
Thompson was the sole athlete to surpass 60 metres in the javelin, throwing 61.44m, and that moved him back up to fourth overall behind leader Owens-Delerme, who managed 55.50m in the wet conditions, plus Bastien (55.84m) and Erm (53.53m).
Owens-Delerme closed his campaign with one final win, clocking 4:29.78 in the 1500m, to take him to a tally of 8478. Erm ran 4:32.45, contributing to his 8236 points for second place, while Thompson&rsquo;s 4:39.73 moved him up one more place and on to the podium with a final score of 8177.
Hauttekeete (8123), Bastien (8102) and Lillemets (8020) also broke the 8000-point barrier, Bastien doing so for the first time to improve on his previous PB of 7976 from 2023.
The women&rsquo;s heptathlon got off to a strong start with Atherley equalling the meeting record of 12.88 in the 100m hurdles. Her US compatriot Brooks was marginally behind in 12.91, with Araujo also breaking 13 seconds (12.97).
World U20 champion Jana Koscak moved up the standings after the high jump with her 1.82m leap being the best of the day, but a 1.79m clearance from Brooks kept the world indoor bronze medallist in the lead. Araujo and Atherley were third and fourth overall, within touching distance of Koscak.
Koscak took a brief lead after the shot put, thanks to the Croatian&rsquo;s throw of 13.91m. Brooks threw 13.39m and held on to second place overall, ahead of Araujo (13.55m). Austria&rsquo;s 2019 world bronze medallist Verena Mayr (14.70m) and Germany&rsquo;s Vanessa Grimm (15.03m) were among the leading performers in the shot put and they moved into fourth and fifth overall.
Brooks regained her lead in the final discipline of the first day, the 200m, running a solid 23.87 to bring her leading tally to 3850. Araujo ended with 24.11, giving her a score of 3791 &ndash; slightly ahead of her pace from G&ouml;tzis, where she set her recent South American record of 6475 to finish third. Koscak&rsquo;s 24.94 kept her in contention, while Lithuania&rsquo;s Beatrice Juskeviciute (23.64) and Atherley (23.66) made up some ground.
Brooks and Araujo were separated by just seven centimetres when the action resumed on day two with the long jump &ndash; Brooks leaping 6.33m and Araujo 6.40m. With Koscak managing 6.10m, there was no change to the top three overall.
As expected, Araujo showed her strength in the javelin and she soared into the lead with a throw of 49.44m. That put her 142 points ahead of Brooks (40.14m) with one event to go, while Juskeviciute moved up to third overall thanks to her 47.20m throw and she sat just eight points ahead of Koscak (43.10m) &ndash; 5373 to 5365.
Atherley topped the final event &ndash; the 800m &ndash; by running 2:06.68 and that pushed her on to the podium with 6283 points. Brooks and Araujo respectively ran 2:15.02 and 2:19.09, and that was enough for them to clinch the top two spots &ndash; Araujo successfully defending her title with 6451 points, the second-best tally of her career, and Brooks scoring 6365, also her second highest ever performance. Juskeviciute finished fourth with 6271.
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-combined-events-tour/calendar-results/7196994/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Results</a>
&nbsp;

Puerto Rico’s Ayden Owens-Delerme won the decathlon on his Decastar debut, while Colombia’s Martha Araujo clinched her second consecutive heptathlon crown

Owens-Delerme wins decathlon, Araujo retains heptathlon title in Talence

Kenya&rsquo;s Valentine Jepkoech Rutto achieved a World Mountain Running Association World Cup double in Chongli, China, this weekend (5-6), while Germany&rsquo;s Lukas Ehrle won the men&rsquo;s uphill race and Kenya&rsquo;s Michael Selelo topped the men&rsquo;s classic race.
The World Cup made its debut in China on Saturday with a spectacular uphill race held in the scenic mountain resort of Yunding, a venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Runners from all over the world faced fresh temperatures, cloudy skies and mud-slicked forest trails, turning the race into an unforgettable battle of strength, strategy and endurance.
Rutto delivered a commanding performance in the women's race, taking the lead from the start. She crossed the finish line in 40:59, writing her name in the history books as the first-ever WMRA race winner on Chinese soil.
Close behind was Great Britain&rsquo;s Scout Adkin, the 2024 World Cup champion, who kept the pressure on and secured second place in 41:58. Rutto&rsquo;s compatriot Gloria Chebet completed the podium in 43:05.
The men&rsquo;s event saw a spectacular duel between Ehrle and Selelo. The two athletes exchanged the lead multiple times on the steep climbs and slippery turns of the Chongli forest trails and ski slopes, before Ehrle edged Saoli by just one second, taking the win in 35:13.
Italy&rsquo;s Andrea Rostan rounded out the podium in 35:37, confirming his strong form this season.
The action continued on Sunday with a classic 21.9km race featuring 1417m of ascent and matching descent.
Under brilliant sunshine and already warm temperatures at the 7am start, the athletes tackled an immediate descent before facing a steep climb of 450m. A fast descent to the 7km checkpoint was followed by a sustained ascent back to 2100m for the race&rsquo;s midpoint. Runners then remained on high ground before a heart-pounding 2km drop into the valley finish.
In contrast to her wire-to-wire victory on Saturday, Rutto let leaders Adkin and Chebet dictate the pace during the first uphill kilometre. But on the second, longer ascent, Rutto unleashed her trademark strength &ndash; surging away and never looking back.
Rutto&rsquo;s decisive move midway, combined with her smooth downhill technique, earned her a comfortable win in 1:55:43, while Adkin and Chebet held on for second (2:01:04) and third (2:04:52), respectively.
Selelo and Ehrle clashed again in this race, surging to the front on the opening incline, with Kenya&rsquo;s Paul Machoka tagging close behind. By the 10km mark, Selelo had asserted full control, leading Machoka and Ehrle by slim margins. The Italian duo of Rostan and Alberto Vender rounded out the top five in a fierce mid-race battle.
Selelo&rsquo;s well-timed push on the final climbs and controlled descent secured him the first classic distance victory in Chongli in 1:38:19, while Machoka and Ehrle lit up the trails with a thrilling tussle for the podium. Machoka clinched second place in 1:39:38, while Ehrle was third in 1:40:17.
Hector Rubio&nbsp;(WMRA) for World Athletics

Valentine Jepkoech Rutto achieved a World Mountain Running Association World Cup double, while Lukas Ehrle won the men’s uphill race and Michael Selelo topped the men’s classic race

Rutto wins uphill and classic mountain race double in Chongli

Plaque name: Tokyo
Location: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building 1, 2-8-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 163-8001
Plaque awarded: 06/07/2025
Reason: Plaque Category &ndash; City
&nbsp;
On the award of the plaque, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: "Tokyo's credentials as a World Athletics Heritage City are beyond question. The host to the 1964 and 2020 Olympic Games and the 1991 and 2025 World Athletics Championships, Tokyo has historically been the stage for great competitions and has witnessed numerous world records.
"Bob Hayes, Abebe Bikila, Ann Packer, Betty Cuthbert, Carl Lewis, Mike Powell, Karsten Warholm, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Yulimar Rojas are just a few of the track and field greats, both past and present, whose performances in the Japanese capital have created headlines around the world.
"Annually, 38,000 runners also take to the streets of the Japanese capital. In a country where the marathon race is a sacred sporting tradition, the Tokyo Marathon is rightfully one of the World Marathon Majors.
&ldquo;Yet among all other reasons, the heroic staging of the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games during the pandemic exemplifies the unique contribution that Tokyo has made to the history of our sport.
&ldquo;Congratulations, Tokyo, on the award of this exceptionally well-deserved honour.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/686a2e71ab3c80033cee2ce0.jpg" alt="The World Athletics Heritage Plaque awarded to Tokyo" />
<div>
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque awarded to Tokyo (&copy; Getty Images)
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</div>
&nbsp;

Tokyo's credentials as a World Athletics Heritage City are beyond question

Tokyo

The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, officially opened the MOWA Heritage Athletics Exhibition Tokyo 2025 on Sunday (6). The exhibition is being staged for 11 weeks in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) building. The TMG&rsquo;s headquarters is a landmark skyscraper complex which, in addition to temporarily hosting the <a href="https://www.tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Museum of World Athletics (MOWA)</a>, offers visitors a 45th floor public observatory platform with spectacular views across the skyline of Tokyo. The TMG building is situated just three metro stations &ndash; a six-minute journey &ndash; away from the National Stadium where the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 will take place from 13-21 September.
<h2>Distinguished gathering</h2>
The opening ceremony was honoured by an exclusive gathering of invited guests. In addition to Governor Koike, among those actively participating in the ceremony were World Athletics Council Member Yuko Arimori, 2004 Olympic marathon gold medallist Mizuki Noguchi and Japan&rsquo;s first world champion Hiromi Taniguchi, the Tokyo 1991 marathon winner. The Japanese team was represented by Naoki Koyama, who will line up in the marathon during the World Athletics Championships in September. Mitsugi Ogata, President of the WCH Tokyo 25 local organising committee, made up the distinguished cast of participants. The ceremony began with a welcoming address by Arimori, a two-time Olympic medallist and newly elected President of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, who was representing World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
In response, Governor Koike delivered her welcome on behalf of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
<h2>Tokyo awarded World Athletics Heritage Plaque</h2>
In this prestigious context, World Athletics announced the award of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque to Tokyo, in the category &ldquo;City&rdquo;, with Arimori presenting the honour to the Governor. The plaque serves as a lasting tribute to Tokyo&rsquo;s central role in the development and celebration of athletics worldwide.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/686a2e49ab3c80033cee2cdd.jpg" alt="Yuko Arimori and Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike during the presentation of the Heritage Plaque" />
<div>
Yuko Arimori and Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike during the presentation of the Heritage Plaque (&copy; Getty Images)
</div>
</div>
In a statement read out by Arimori, World Athletics President Coe commented: "Tokyo's credentials as a World Athletics Heritage City are beyond question. The host to the 1964 and 2020 Olympic Games and the 1991 and 2025 World Athletics Championships, Tokyo has historically been the stage for great competitions and has witnessed numerous world records.
"Bob Hayes, Abebe Bikila, Ann Packer, Betty Cuthbert, Carl Lewis, Mike Powell, Karsten Warholm, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Yulimar Rojas are just a few of the track and field greats, both past and present, whose performances in the Japanese capital have created headlines around the world.
"Annually, 38,000 runners also take to the streets of the Japanese capital. In a country where the marathon race is a sacred sporting tradition, the Tokyo Marathon is rightfully one of the World Marathon Majors.
&ldquo;Yet among all other reasons, the heroic staging of the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games during the pandemic exemplifies the unique contribution that Tokyo has made to the history of our sport.
&ldquo;Congratulations, Tokyo, on the award of this exceptionally well-deserved honour.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/686a2e71ab3c80033cee2ce0.jpg" alt="The World Athletics Heritage Plaque awarded to Tokyo" />
<div>
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque awarded to Tokyo (&copy; Getty Images)
</div>
</div>
<h2>Tokyo 1991 to Tokyo 2025</h2>
A highlight of this MOWA exhibition is the first-ever public display of the gold, silver and bronze medals from both editions of the World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo. The two sets embody the continuity of Tokyo&rsquo;s deep-rooted legacy in global athletics and its renewed commitment as host of this year&rsquo;s championships.
During the ceremony on Sunday, a historic photograph was taken of the two golds, with the Tokyo 1991 medal held by Taniguchi and Arimori alongside Koike and Ogata, who posed with the equivalent from Tokyo 2025.
<h2>Arimori donates Olympic shoes to MOWA</h2>
Arimori marked the opening of the exhibition by generously donating her Barcelona Olympic Games marathon shoes, which she wore when taking silver in 1992, to the collection of the Museum of World Athletics. She presented her donation to the Governor, who received the shoes on behalf of the MOWA. The shoes will go on display on Monday (7) when the exhibition opens to the public.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/686a3137ab3c80033cee2ce6.jpg" alt="Yuko Arimori donates her Barcelona Olympic Games marathon shoes to the MOWA" />
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Yuko Arimori donates her Barcelona Olympic Games marathon shoes to the MOWA (&copy; Getty Images)
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Arimori made her marathon debut in 1990 and set a national record on her second attempt. The 1991 World Championships was a turning point in her career, as she finished fourth in the women&rsquo;s marathon, a performance that set the stage for her global breakthrough.
Reflecting on her personal connection to the World Athletics Championships, Arimori commented: &ldquo;I remember vividly the great excitement of watching on television the first World Athletics Championships, which were staged in Helsinki in 1983. Then, eight years later, I felt enormous pride when the championships came to Tokyo for the first time.
&ldquo;I was competing in the marathon and finished fourth, while in second place Sachiko Yamashita took Japan&rsquo;s first-ever World Championships medal. Then, on the last day of those 1991 championships, Taniguchi courageously won the men&rsquo;s marathon, Japan&rsquo;s first-ever gold medal.&rdquo;
Coached by Yoshio Koide (recipient in 2019 of the World Athletics Heritage Plaque in the posthumous category of &lsquo;Legend&rsquo;), Arimori went on to win not only silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics but bronze four years later in Atlanta, becoming the first Japanese woman to claim two medals in the event. Arimori&rsquo;s achievements elevated the status of women&rsquo;s distance running in Japan, and she now serves as a member of the World Athletics Council.
<h2>Ribbon cut</h2>
Sunday&rsquo;s ceremony, which included archive footage of the 1991 and 2023 World Athletics Championships and the global victories of Taniguchi and Noguchi, concluded with the Governor and her fellow principal cutting the ribbon to officially open the exhibition.
World Athletics Heritage

The exhibition is being staged for 11 weeks in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building