Walsh makes World Indoor Championships history on final morning in Kujawy Pomorze

• Tom Walsh wins record-breaking seventh world indoor medal
• Agate De Sousa gets long jump gold for first global medal
• Pentathlon off to competitive start

Two more crowns were claimed on the third and final morning of competition at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 on Sunday (22).

Tom Walsh made World Indoor Championships history, retaining his title in the shot put for his seventh world indoor medal – more than any other male athlete.

Agate De Sousa secured her first global medal in style – getting gold in the long jump.

Competition continues in the pentathlon, while athletes contested the first rounds of the women’s 60m hurdles, and the women’s and men’s 4x400m.

 

Gold again for Walsh

New Zealand’s Tom Walsh earned a record-breaking seventh world indoor medal when winning gold in the men’s shot put.

The 34-year-old – who also won world indoor titles in 2016, 2018 and 2025 – now owns more world indoor medals than any male athlete in history.

USA’s Jordan Geist took an early lead with his opening effort of 21.64m. He followed it with several big throws, some close to 22 metres, but they were fouls. Walsh, meanwhile, improved steadily throughout the competition, opening with 20.59m before improving to 21.21m in round two and 21.28m in round four.

The defending champion took the lead in round five with his effort of 21.66m. USA’s Roger Steen produced his best mark in the final round, consolidating his third place with 21.49m, then Geist rounded out his series with 21.38m.

With the title secured, Walsh saved his best for last and hurled his shot out to a season’s best of 21.82m.

Full report

Results: 1 Tom Walsh (NZL) 21.82m, 2 Jordan Geist (USA) 21.64m, 3 Roger Steen (USA) 21.49m

 

De Sousa soars to long jump title

Portugal’s Agate De Sousa won an exciting long jump final to ensure her first global medal was a gold one.

By jumping 6.92m in the fifth round, the European bronze medallist took the title ahead of Italy’s Larissa Iapichino and Colombia’s Natalia Linares.

Iapichino saved her best for last, jumping 6.87m in the final round to secure silver for her first global medal, while Linares added world indoor bronze with a leap of 6.80m to the medal of the same colour she claimed in Tokyo last year – a first ever world indoor medal for Colombia.

Full report

Results: 1 Agate De Sousa (POR) 6.92m, 2 Larissa Iapichino (ITA) 6.87m, 3 Natalia Linares (COL) 6.80m

 

Pentathlon too close to call

World champion Anna Hall made a promising start to her first pentathlon on the global stage by speeding to an 8.18 clocking in the 60m hurdles, the fastest time of the day, then followed it with 1.84m in the high jump.

Sofie Dokter, the 2024 world indoor bronze medallist, was just behind Hall in the 60m hurdles (8.19) but went higher in the high jump (1.87m), putting the Dutch athlete in the lead after two disciplines.

World silver medallist Kate O’Connor also got off to a strong start, clocking 8.23 in the hurdles and clearing 1.81m in the high jump. She followed it with a 14.65m PB in the shot put, putting her ahead of the pace she set when taking silver in Nanjing last year.

Dokter maintained her overall lead after the shot put, thanks to a 13.92m throw, but Hall closed the gap with her 14.26m effort, keeping her in second place. Home favourite Adrianna Sulek-Schubert moved up the standings after unleashing a shot put PB of 14.89m, putting her in fourth place behind O’Connor.

With two disciplines to go, just 67 points separate the top four athletes.

 

In the rounds

Women’s 60m hurdles: Bahamian world record-holder Devynne Charlton cruised through the 60m hurdles heats to begin the defence of her title. The two-time world indoor champion clocked 7.82 to win the fourth heat, the same time as Nadine Visser in winning the fifth. World champion Ditaji Kambundji and home favourite Pia Skrzyszowska won won their heats in 7.84, while Alia Armstong topped her race in 7.85 and Megan Simmonds clocked 7.89 to also clinch a heat victory.

Women’s 4x400m: Poland delighted the home fans, going quickest overall in the heats. The quartet, anchored by Justyna Święty-Ersetic, clocked 3:28.06 to win the first heat ahead of the Netherlands (3:28.11). Defending champions USA won the second heat in 3:28.36 ahead of Great Britain in 3:29.31 and they will be joined in the final by Slovak Republic, who set a national record of 3:29.87, and Spain.

Men’s 4x400m: Netherlands and Belgium won the two heats, respectively clocking 3:04.66 and 3:05.25 ahead of Portugal in 3:04.75 and Hungary in 3:05.67, both national records. USA, defending champions and 12-time winners of this title, were run out of the top two automatic qualifying spots but as their 3:04.85 came in the quicker first heat, they advanced on time along with Jamaica (3:05.68).