World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 Recap

Tokyo’s National Stadium hosted the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships which took place from 13-21 September. Almost 2,202 athletes from 198 countries participated in 49 events across the month of September. The World Championships were viewed by 619,288 people across all days, with temperatures, humidity and weather conditions having an impact on several events, particularly in the walks and distance races in the morning and evening sessions.

(Image Credit to worldathletics.org)

Day 1 (13 September)

At the start of the meet, athletes participated in the 35 km race walk (men and women). Under punishing conditions, Canada’s Evan Dunfee won gold in the men’s event, with Brazil’s Caio Bonfim and Japan’s Hayato Katsuki rounding out the podium. On the women’s side, María Pérez from Spain won gold, with Italy’s Antonella Palmisano coming second and Ecuador’s Paula Milena Torres taking bronze, setting a national record.

Middle Days (Days 2-7, roughly 14-19 September)

Women’s Long Jump: Tara Davis-Woodhall from the USA jumped 7.13m to win gold, ahead of Malaika Mihambo from Germany who finished second and Natalia Linares from Colombia who finished third. 

Women’s Steeplechase (3000m): Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, who overtook Bahrain’s reigning champion Winfred Yavi on the final lap delivered a dramatic finish, setting a championship record in the process. A personal best was achieved by Sembo Almayew from Ethiopia to claim the bronze.

Pole Vault: Armand “Mondo” Duplantis proved to the masses that he is the GOAT once again, breaking another world record of 6.30m in front of a packed stadium.

Sprints/Double Gold: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) secured gold in the sprint double (100m & 200m), with her 200m time of 21.68 being the fastest in the world in 2025. With his fourth world 200m, Noah Lyles from the USA stormed the fastest 200m in the world this year and also his fastest time in over two years. 

Final Days (Days 8-9, 20-21 September)

Women’s High Jump: Nicola Olyslagers from Australia secured the gold with a jump of 2.00m, Maria Żodzik from Poland took silver and Yaroslava Mahuchikh from Ukraine tied for bronze alongside Angelina Topic from Serbia.

Men’s 1500m: Portugal’s Isaac Nader took gold, beating Britain’s Jake Wightman and Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot. Many people were expecting big names, but Nader managed to run a clever and tactical race.

5000m men: Following his disqualification earlier in the week in the men’s 1500m, Cole Hocker from the USA won gold at the men’s 5000m. Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli secured the silver medal, while France’s Jimmy Gressier took bronze.

Women’s 800m: Kenya’s Lilian Odira won gold in 1:54.62, just ahead of Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell who took the silver medal and Keely Hodgkinson, also from GBR, narrowly picking up the bronze medal. Hodgkinson had also experienced illness and injuries in the buildup.

Article written by Ioanna Ntontsef