Athletes in action in Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń
Last three sets of world indoor medallists
2022 - 1. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 3:57.19; 2. Axumawit Embaye (ETH) 4:02.29; 3. Hirut Meshesha (ETH) 4:03.39
2024 - 1. Freweyni Hailu (ETH) 4:01.46; 2. Nikki Hiltz (USA) 4:02.32; 3. Emily Mackay (USA) 4:02.69
2025 - 1. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 3:54.86; 2. Diribe Welteji (ETH) 3:59.30; 3. Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) 3:59.84
Fastest winning times
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) — 3:54.86 (2025)
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) — 3:57.19 (2022)
Gelete Burka (ETH) — 3:59.75 (2008)
Slowest winning time
Regina Jacobs (USA) — 4:12.61 (1995)
Biggest winning margin
6.51s - 2014: Abeba Aregawi (SWE) 4:00.61, Axumawit Embaye (ETH) 4:07.12
Smallest winning margin
0.01s - 1985: Elly van Hulst (NED) 4:11.41, Fita Lovin (ROU) 4:11.42
Fastest times on Polish soil
3:53.92 1 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) - Torun 16.02.2025
3:54.77 1 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) - Torun 22.02.2022
3:55.92 1 Freweyni Hailu (ETH) - Torun 06.02.2024
Repeat winners
2 - Doina Melinte (ROU) - 1987, 1989
2 - Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) - 1993, 1997
2 - Regina Jacobs (USA) - 1995, 2003
2 - Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) - 2012, 2016
2 - Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) - 2022, 2025
By country
8 - Ethiopia
3 - Romania
3 - Russia
2 - United States
2 - Netherlands
1 - Sweden
1 - Soviet Union
1 - Morocco
Fastest times in rounds
R1 Nikki Hiltz (USA) 4:04.34 - 2024
Top eight entrants (based on final entries)
Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) 4:00.04
Birke Haylom (ETH) 4:00.62
Agathe Guillemot (FRA) 4:00.64
Saron Berhe (ETH) 4:01.23
Revee Walcott-Nolan (GBR) 4:01.50
Wilma Nielsen (SWE) 4:01.60
Klaudia Kazimierska (POL) 4:01.78
Haregeweyni Kalayu (ETH) 4:01.92
Historic facts
- Ethiopia is the most successful nation with eight world indoor 1500m titles, including the last four editions since 2018
- In fact, Ethiopian-born athletes have won the last nine editions stretching back to 2008. As well as seven Ethiopian gold medals, Abeba Aregawi (SWE) and Sifan Hassan (NED), both of whom were born in Ethiopia, won this title in 2014 and 2016 respectively
- Ethiopia took the first ever clean sweep in World Indoor Championships history in the women’s 1500m in 2022 (1. Gudaf Tsegay; 2. Axumawit Embaye; 3. Hirut Meshesha 4:03.39)
- Only two athletes have won a 1500/3000m double at the World Indoor Championships: Gabriela Szabo (ROU) in 1999 and Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) in 2018
- At 44y/271d, 1997 world indoor champion Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) is by far the oldest gold medallist in World Indoor Championships history
Potential storylines and notes
- Can Ethiopia win their ninth world indoor 1500m title and their fifth title in a row since 2018?
- All four Ethiopians who have been selected for the 1500m in Kujawy Pomorze (men and women) are coached by Hiluf Yihdego, the husband and coach of Gudaf Tsegay. However, only Birke Haylom will compete as the selected Saron Berhe and Haregeweyni Kalayu (and Mosisa Siyoum in the men's 1500m) could not travel due to visa problems
- Can Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR) become the first British winner of the 1500m title in World Indoor Championships history? On why she has focused on the 1500m indoors, she said: "It’s actually an easier decision which to do indoors as the style of running an 800m indoors is get to the front, stay there and try to hold on until the end which is not how I run an 800m. So, it’s always going to be 1500m indoors. In the summer, we’ll wait and see." Hunter Bell has also been named as British team captain. She won her heat with a last 400m of 58.80
- Can Nikki Hiltz (USA) become the first US winner of the 1500m title since 2003?
- Can Agathe Guillemot (FRA) become the first French winner of this title? She has already set four French records this year: two in the 1500m (4:02.12, 4:00.64), one in the mile (4:23.27), and one in the 2000m (5:32.18) and also won the 1500m on this track at the Copernicus Cup. Guillemot closed with a 56.85 last 400m to win her heat
- Jessica Hull (AUS) is the only athlete who is on the entry-list for the 1500m and 3000m. Hull won a 3000m bronze last night, closing with a last kilometre of 2:41.60
- Former teen prodigy Anita Hinriksdottir (ISL), who has won world U18 and European U20 800m titles, has qualified for her first major championships since the 2018 European Championships
- Another age-group great Delia Sclabas (SUI) has set an outright PB of 4:08.67 this indoor season, breaking a lifetime best which had dated back to 2018 when she was 17
