Ultimate Championships 2026 Budapest Hungary Recap
Three nights, 28 finals, the world’s biggest athletics stars and a record breaking prize fund. The World Athletics Ultimate Championships has officially come to an end in Budapest delivering a spectacular conclusion to the 2026 outdoor season.
From September 11-13 the national athletics centre hosted a new type of championship designed to bring the best athletes together in a shorter, more intense competition.
The atmosphere was equally different. More than 20.000 spectators attended each evening while music, lighting and entertainment created a festival-like environment inside the national athletics centre.
The athletes were not simply competing for another medal. Each event winner earned 150.000 dollars adding another layer of pressure to an already elite field.
Melissa Jefferson Wooden from USA produces a sensational sprint double winning both the women’s 100m and women’s 200m.
On the men’s side Kenny Bednarek from USA did also the same double on the men’s 100m and men’s 200m.
Emmanouil Karalis from Greece arrived in Budapest having enjoyed the greatest season of his career including his first diamond league title . Once again however standing between him and Mondo Duplantis from Sweden who is the world record holder won.
Gianmarco Tamberi from Italy cleared 2.37m to take victory in the men’s high jump with the crowd becoming part of the performance as music played throughout the competition .
On the women’s side Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine took the title with 1.99m ahead of Nicola Olyslagers from Australia at 1.95m.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway is the superstar by winning in the men’s 5000m in 12:59.24 finishing ahead of Cole Hocker and Parker Wolfe .
In the women’s 800m Audrey Werro from Switzerland defeated Olympic champion Kelly Hodgkinson in a thrilling final . Werro ran 1:55.88 with Hodgkinson second in 1:56.26.
In the men’s 400m hurdles Alison Dos Santos from Brazil produced one of the fastest performances of the championship winning in 45.98.
To sum up the pole vault record holder Mondo Duplantis on the final day he performed his song called “Gold” the official ultimate championship anthem he created as fireworks filled the sky above the national athletics centre. The first ultimate championship was designed to be different and Budapest certainly made sure it would be remembered.
Article written by Ioanna Ntontsef © Ioanna Ntontsef
