Men’s Events Preview: Stars Set to Shine at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Thursday, 11 September 2025

From September 13 to 21, the world’s elite male athletes will converge on Tokyo for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, ready to battle for global supremacy across track, field, and road events. With Olympic champions, world record-holders, and rising talents all set to compete, the men’s competition promises thrilling head-to-head clashes, historic performances, and unforgettable moments on the sport’s biggest stage. This event-by-event preview highlights the key contenders and storylines to watch in Tokyo.

100 metres:

The clash between Olympic 100 metres champion Noah Lyles, Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, Olympic 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek and Olympic and world finalist Oblique Seville is shaping up as one of the highlights of the World Championships in Tokyo.

Lyles won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres in Paris 2024 in 9.79 edging Thompson by five thousandths of a second in one of the most dramatic Olympic finals in history. Lyles will defend his world title two years after his triumph in Budapest 2023 in 9.83. The US sprint star set a seasonal best of 9.90 when he finished second at the Memorial Kamila Skolimowska in Chorzow.

Thompson won the Jamaican Championships final in Kingston last June in a lifetime best of 9.75 moving to sixth on the world all-time list. The Jamaican sprinter clocked 9.85 to win the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on 5 July. The following month he won his second Diamond League race of the season in Chorzow in 9.87 beating Lyles by three hundredths of a second in their first clash since the Paris Olympic Games.

Seville improved his PB to 9.81 to win his semifinal at the Olympic Games in Paris before placing eighth in the final. Last June Seville clocked 9.83 to finish second to Thompson at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston. One month later Seville won the 100m in London in 9.86 ahead of Lyles and Letsile Tebogo. On 20 August he won the 100m in Lausanne in 9.87 ahead of Lyles in rainy conditions.

Ackeem Blake won the Diamond League final in Brussels in 9.93 in 2024. This year he finished third at both the Jamaican Championships in 9.88 and at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 9.99.

Bednarek won the 100 metres in a world seasonal lead of 9.79 at the US Championships in Eugene. The US sprinter finished seventh in the 100m Olympic final in Paris in 9.88.

Akani Simbine finished fourth in his third Olympic final in his PB of 9.82 and won the silver medal in the 4x100 relay in 37.57. Simbine won three Diamond League races in Xiamen in 9.99, Keqiao in 9.98 and Rabat in 9.95 and finished second in Zurich in 9.98. The South African sprinter won the world indoor bronze medal in the 60 metres in Nanjing last March in 6.54 and reached three world finals (fourth in Doha 2019, fifth in London 2017 and Eugene 2022).

Letsile Tebogo won two world under 20 titles in Nairobi 2021 in 10.19 and Cali 2022 in 9.91 and the world silver medal in the 100 metres in 9.88 in Budapest. He finished sixth in the 100m Olympic final in a PB of 9.86 in Paris.

Courtney Lindsey won the NCAA title in 9.89 in 2023 and finished second in the 100 metres in 9.82 at the US Championships in Eugene and finished second in the 4x100 relay at the World Relays in 37.66 in Guangzhou.

T’Mars McCallum made his breakthrough when he won the 100m in a wind-assisted 9.87 and the 200m in a lifetime best of 19.73 at the Ed Murphy Classic in Memphis last July. He qualified for the World Championships for the first time in his career with his third place at the US Championships in 9.83.

200 metres:

Noah Lyles will chase his fourth consecutive world title in the 200 metres after taking victories in Doha 2019, Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. Lyles broke Michael Johnson’s North American record with 19.31. The US star won the 200m at the Diamond League final in Zurich in 19.74 holding off Letsile Tebogo by 0.02. He claimed the sixth Diamond Trophy of his career becoming the most successful track athlete in Diamond League history. This year he also won the 200 metres at the Monaco Diamond League in 19.88 and at the US Championships in Eugene in a world lead of 19.63. Lyles leads 10-1 in his head-to-head matches against Tebogo and won 20 of his 21 races in the 200m in his career in the Diamond League.

If US sprinter Noah Lyles repeats his triple gold feat from two years ago, he’d become just the fourth athlete in World Championships history to win nine gold medals,

Tebogo won the Olympic gold medal in the 200m setting the African record of 19.46 in Paris and the world bronze medal in Budapest in 19.81. He won the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in a seasonal best of 19.76 and equalled this time when he finished second behind Lyles at the Diamond League Final in Zurich.

Kenny Bednarek finished second behind Lyles at this year’s US Championships in Eugene in a seasonal best of 19.67. He won the world silver medal in Eugene 2022 in 19.77, two Olympic silver medals in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 and two Diamond League titles in the same years.

Robert Gregory took third place at the US Championships in Eugene in a PB of 19.80 and second at the Brussels Diamond League meeting in 20.19,

Brian Levell won the Jamaican title in 20.10 and the Continental Tour Gold race in Budapest improving his PB to 19.69 last August. He also set his seasonal best of 9.82 in the 100m in Eisenstadt.

Alexander Ogando finished fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in 20.02 and reached two world finals (fifth in Eugene 2022 and seventh in Budapest 2023). Ogando won the 200m in Brussels in 20.16 and finished third in Zurich in 20.14.

Australian 17-year-old rising star Gout Gout, world under silver medallist in Lima 2024, improved the national record to 20.02 in Ostrava and won the under 23 200 metres race on his his debut in the Diamond League in Monaco.

Tapira Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba reached the Olympic final finishing sixth and eighth respectively. This year Charamba improved the national record to 19.92. Makarawu ran faster when he won the NCAA title in 19.84 in Eugene.

The other final candidates are Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh, who reached two Olympic finals in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 and finished fourth at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and Cuba’s Reyner Mena, winner at the Stockolm Diamond League meeting in a PB of 20.05.

Men’s 400 metres:

Jacory Patterson won the US title in Eugene in 44.16 qualifying for the World Championships for the first time in his career. The 25-year-old US athlete dipped under the 44 seconds barrier for the first time in his career a the Grand Slam Track meeting in Miami with 43.98 and won three Diamond League in Rabat in 44.37, in Brussels in 44.05 and in Zurich setting a PB of 43.85.

Khaleb McRea will make his debut at the World Championships after finishing second at the US Championships in Eugene. McRea dipped under the 44 seconds barrier with 43.91 and finished third at the Continental Tour in Budapest in 44.16.

Christopher Bailey is aiming to win another international medal after winning two world indoor titles in the 400m and 4x400 relay. Bailey won the Diamond League race in Keqiao in 44.17 and finished second at the US Championships in Eugene in 44.43.

Vernon Norwood, Olympic and world champion with the 4x400 relay, finished fourth at the US Championships in 44.47 but he was added in the team after Patterson got a wild card as a Diamond League champion.

Matthew Hudson Smith and Charlie Dobson will form a strong British team. Hudson Smith is chasing his fourth global medal after finishing third in Eugene 2022 in 44.66, second at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 in 44.31 and at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 improving the European record for the third time to 43.44. The British athlete claimed the win at he Diamond League meeting in Eugene in 44.10 last July.

Dobson, European silver medallist in Rome and Diamond League champion in 2024, won the Diamond League race in London in a PB of 44.14.

Zakhiti Nene from South Africa won the Continental Tour Gold race in Nairobi in a world lead of 43.76 moving to 14th on the world all-time list.

Muzala Samukonga from Zambia won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris in 43.74 and set his seasonal best of 44.11 at the Continental Tour meeting in Budapest.

Bayapo Ndori from Botswana won in Xiamen in 44.25 and finished second in Keqiao in 44.32.

Kirani won the world title in Daegu 2011 when he was a teenager and the Olympic Games in London 2011. The Grenadan athlete has completed a full set of world medals winning bronze in Beijing 2015 and silver in Eugene 2022 and finished fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 in 43.87. This year he won the NACAC Championships title in 44.48.

Jereem Richards, world indoor title in Belgrade 2022, set a seasonal best of 44.14 at the Continental Tour meeting in Budapest.

Alexander Doom is aiming to reach the final after winning two gold medals at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 45.25 and at the European Championships in Rome in his PB of 44.15 in 2024.

Men’s 800 metres:

Emmanuel Wanyonyi is aiming to win the first world gold medal of his career two years after finishing second behind Marco Arop in Budapest 2023. The 21-year-old Kenyan star won the Olympic gold medal in Paris in 1:41.19 edging Arop by one hundredths of a second. Wanyonyi improved his PB to 1:41.11 in Lausanne a few weeks later moving to second in the world all-time list.

In his final race before the World Championship in Tokyo Wanyonyi won in Zurich in 1:42.37 edging Max Burgin by five hundredths of a second. Wanyonyi claimed his third consecutive Diamond League after a successful season in which he won four more wins in Oslo with 1:42.78, in Stockolm in 1:41.95, in Monaco in a world leading time of 1:41.44 and in London with 1:42.00.

Arop is bidding to win his second world title. The Canadian athlete performed well in the Diamond League this season finishing second in London in 1;42:22 and third in Zurich in 1:42.57.

Max Burgin from Great Britain improved his PB to 1:42.36 in London and finished second at the Diamond League in Zurich in 1:42.42.

Donovan Brazier made a successful come-back by winning the US title in Eugene in a PB if 1:42.16.

Bryce Hoppel won the world indoor title in Glasgow and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris setting a North American record of 1:42.67. Hoppel qualified for the World Championships with his third place at the US Championships in 1:42.49.

A surprise could come from 16-year-old rising star Cooper Luckenhaus, who finished second at the US Championships in 1:42.27 improving Mohamed Aman’s previous under 18 record. Luckenhaus becomes the youngest US athlete to compete at the World Championships.

Mohammed Attaoui set a Spanish record of 1:42.04 in Monaco 2024 and won his first Diamond League race in Paris in 1:42.73 last June. Attaoui set a national record of 2:12.25 in the 1000m in Trier.

Tshepiso Maselela from Botwsana won at the Rabat Diamond League meeting in 1:42.70.

1500 metres:

Dutch 20-year-old Niels Laros won the Diamond League title in Zurich improving the national record to 3:29.20. Laros enjoyed a successful season highlighted by two more Diamond League wins in the Bowerman Mile in 3:45.94 and in the 1500 metres in Brussels in 3:30.58. This season he also won two European under 23 titles in the 800 metres in 1:44.39 and in the 5000m in 13:44.74 and at in the 5000m at the European Team Championships in Madrid in 13:44.45. He made his breakthrough in 2022 when he won two European under 18 titles in the 1500m and in the 3000m in Jerusalem. One year later he returned to the Israeli city to win two European under 20 gold medals in the 1500m and in the 5000m. He finished sixth in the 1500m at the Olympic Games in Paris in 3:29.64. He set a Dutch indoor record of 7:29.46 in the 3000 metres in Liévin. The Dutch team will also feature Stefan Nillesen, who set a previous national record with 3:29.23 in Paris and won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the European under 23 Championships in Bergen.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen started his 2025 season with a world indoor record in the mile with 3.45.14 in Lievin breaking Yared Nuguse’s previous time of 3:46.63. In this race the Norwegian athlete ran a split of 3:29.63 in the 1500m, breaking his indoor world record over this distance. Ingebrigtsen won the 1500m and the 3000m at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn completing this double for the third time in his career. Two weeks later Ingebrigtsen completed the same double by winning at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. He became the second man after Haile Gebrselassie to win two gold medals at the same edition of the World Indoor Championships. However, Ingebrigtsen suffered from a strained Achilles tendon and was forced to cancel his Diamond League season. He will start his season at the World Championships. Ingebrigtsen returns to Tokyo where he won the Olympic gold medal in the 1500m in 2021. He finished second to Jake Wightman in the 1500 metres at the World Championships in Eugene 2022. One year later he won his second silver medal behind another British athlete Josh Kerr in the World Championships in Budapest.

Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech will make his debut in a big international championship. The Kenyan 18-year-old rising star made his breakthrough at international level last June when he set the world under 20 record clocking 3:27.72 at the Paris Diamond League meeting. Koech won two 1500m races in Ostrava in 3:29.05 and in London in 3:28.82 and finished second in Brussels in 3:31.41 and third in Zurich in 3:30.02.

Cole Hocker won the Olympic gold medal in the 1500m setting a PB of 3:27.65. Hocker qualified for the World Championships with his third place at the US Championships in Eugene in 3:30.37. He set PBs of 7:23.14 in the 3000m at the Millrose Games and 3:47.43 at the Bowerman Mile in Eugene.

Josh Kerr from Great Britain will defend his world title two years after winning the previous edition in Budapest 2023. Kerr also won the Olympic silver medal in Paris in a British record of 3:27.79 and the world indoor title in 3000m in Glasgow 2024. This year he finished second in the 1500m at the London Diamond League meeting in a seasonal best of 3:29.37.

Jonah Koech won two races in the 1500m at the Rabat Diamond League in 3:31.43 and at the US Championships in Eugene in 3:30.17 and the 800m in 1:43.32 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi. Ethan Strand finished second at the US Championships in Eugene in 3:30.25.

Timothy Cheruiyot will aim at his fourth global medal after winning gold in the 1500m at the World Championships in Doha 2019 and two silver medals at the World Championships in London 2017 and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. This year Cheruiyot finished second at the Rome Diamond League meeting in a seasonal best of 3:29.75. His namesake Reynold Cheruiyot will aim at his first global senior medal after claiming the world under 20 title in Cali 2022. Cheruyiot won his first Diamond League competition in the 5000m in Doha last May.

Azzedine Habz from France won two Diamond League races in the 1500m in Rome in 3:29.72 and in Paris with a French record of 3:27.49 and finished third in the Bowerman Mile with a national record of 3;46,65 and fifth at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 3:30.39.

The other top names are Cameron Myers from Australia, world under 20 silver medallist in Lima 2024 and Oceanian under 20 record holder with 3:29.80 in Ostrava, Isaac Nader, winner at the Dream Mile in Oslo in a national record of 3:48.25, Narve Nordas from Norway, world bronze medallist in Budapest 2023, Robert Farken, national record holder in the 1500m with 3:30.80 in Rome and in the mile with 3:48.83 in Berlin, and Anass Essaiy from Morocco, third at the Rome Golden Gala with 3:30.74.

5000 metres:

Grant Fisher will chase his first medal at the World Championships one year after winning two Olympic bronze medals in the 5000 metres and in the 10000 metres in Paris 2024. Fisher finished second in the 5000 and 10000m at the US Championships in Eugene and in his most recent two Diamond League races in the 5000m in Lausanne in 13:08.51 and in the 3000m in Zurich in 7:38.51. Fisher set North American indoor records of 7:22.91 in the 3000m at the Millrose Games in New York and 12:44.09 in the 5000m in Boston. He clocked 3:48.91 in the Bowerman Mile in Eugene.

Nico Young won the first Diamond League in his career in the 5000 metres in Oslo in 12:45.27. Young won the 10000 metres and finished third in the 5000 metres at the US Championships in Eugene.

Ingebrigtsen will run his first 5000 metres race of the season. The Norwegian star will chase his third consecutive world 5000 metres title on the track where he won the Olympic 1500 metres title.

Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia won two Diamond League races in the 5000 metres in Paris in 12.49.07 and in Monaco in 12:47.84. Kejelcha won the silver medal in the 10000 metres at the World Championships in Doha 2019 and set PBs of 12:38.95 in the 5000m and 26:31.01 in the 10000m in 2024.

Biniam Mehary finished sixth in the 5000m at the Olympic Games in Paris and set the world indoor under 20 record in the 3000m with 7:29.99 in Liévin in 2025. The 18-year-old Ethiopian athlete set PBs of 12:45.93 in the 5000m in Oslo and 26:43.82 in the 10000m in Eugene. Hagos Gebrhiwet won two world medals (silver in Moscow 2013 and bronze in Beijing 2015) and the Olympic bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro 2016. Gebrhiwet set a national record of 12:36.35 in Oslo in 2024. The Ethiopian team is completed by Kuma Girma, who set a PB of 12:46.41 in Oslo.

Jimmy Gressier won the 3000 metres at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 7:36.78, broke the French record in the 5000m with 12:51.59 in Paris and finished second in Monaco in 12:53.36.

Andreas Almgren from Sweden broke the 5000m European record with 12:44.27 in Stockolm and finished third in the 3000m in 7:36.82 in Zurich.

Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland won the 10000m European title in Rome 2024 and broke the 5000m national record of 12:50.87 in Oslo.

Mohamed Abdilahi clocked 12:53.63 at the Monaco Diamond League meeting breaking the German record set by Dieter Baumann in Zurich 1997.

George Mills from Great Britain won the European silver medal in the 5000m in Rome 2024 and improved Mo Farah’s national record of 12:46.59 in the 5000m in Oslo.

The Kenyan team is led by Jacob Krop, who won two world medals (silver in Eugene 2022 and bronze in Budapest 2023) and set a PB of 12:45.71 in Brussels in 2022.

The other athletes to watch are Thierry Ndikumwenayo from Spain, European bronze medallist in the 10000m in Rome 2024 and national record holder with 7:25.93 in the 3000m and 26:49.49 in the 10000m, Birhanu Balew from Barhein, who finished second at the Paris Diamond League meeting setting a national record of 12:48.67.

Men’s 10000 metres:

A new world champion will be crowned in the men’s 10000 metres, as Joshua Cheptegei will not defend his title.

The Ethiopian team will be formed by Biniam Mehary, Berihu Aregawi and 2021 Olympic champion Selemon Barega, who finished in the top three at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene dipping under the 26:45 barrier. Teenager Mehary won that race in 26:43.82 ahead of Aregawi (26:43.84) and Barega (26:44.13).

Aregawi won the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024 in 26:43.44 and two Diamond League titles in 2021 and 2024.

Barega won the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023 one place ahead of Aregawi and claimed victory in Seville in 2:05:15 last February.

Mehary, sixth in the 5000m at the Olympic Games in Paris set world under 20 record in the 3000m indoors with 7:29.99 in Liévin and in the 10000m outdoors with 26:37.93 in Nerja in 2025.

The Kenyan team will feature Sanley Waithaka Mburu, 2022 world silver medallist, Ishmael Kipkirui, world under 20 cross country champion.

The US team will be led by Grant Fisher, who won the Olympic bronze medal in the 10000min in Paris in 26:43.46 and finished second at the 2025 US Championships. Fisher set a PB of 26:33.94. He will be joined by his compatriot Nico Young, who won the 10000m at the US Championships.

The best European athletes in the field are Jimmy Gressier from France, who won the European half marathon title in Leuven in 59:45, Thierry Ndikumwenayo from Spain, national record holder with 26:49.49, Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland, European champion in Rome.

Another athlete to watch is Adriaan Wildschutt, South African record holder with 12:55.02.

Men’s 3000 metres steeplechase:

Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali is seeking his third world title in the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase. El Bakkali returns to Tokyo four years after his first Olympic title. El Bakkali has become the first steeplechaser to win consecutive Olympic gold medals. The Moroccan athlete won his second Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 and two back-to-back world titles in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. He leads the entry list of the World Championships with his seasonal best of 8:00.70 set at the Diamond League in Rabat on home soil. El Bakkali also won the Diamond League meeting in Monaco in 8:03.18, finished second in Xiamen and set a PB of 12:55.49 in the 5000m in Paris.

Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia is chasing his first global medal after winning three consecutive world silver medals and a second place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. Girma set the world record in the 3000m steeplechase with 7:52.11 in the Paris Diamond League meeting but he suffered a fall during the final lap of the Olympic Games in the French capital. The Ethiopian athlete set a seasonal best of 8:07.01 in the Paris Diamond League.

Fredrick Ruppert finished second at the Diamond League in Rabat breaking Damian Kallabis’ German record of 8:01.49 and won the Diamond League in Zurich with 8:09.02.

Another medal candidate is Japan’s Ryuji Miura, who finished second behind El Bakkali at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco in a national record of 8:03.43.

Kenya’s 17-year-old Edmund Serem improved his PB to 8:04.00 and finished second to Ruppert in the Diamond League final in Zurich.

The other medal contenders are USA’s Kenneth Rooks and Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot, who finished second and third at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Salaheddine Ben Azzide from Morocco and Getnet Wale from Ethiopia set the sixth and ninth fastest time on the world seasonal list with 8:06.44 and 8:07.57.

Another athlete to watch is Geordie Beamish from New Zealand, who won the world indoor title in the 1500m in Glasgow 2024 and set a national record of 8:09.64 at the Diamond League in Paris.

Men’s 110 metres hurdles:

Cordell Tinch won the Diamond League title in Zurich in 12.93 equalling the long standing meeting record held by Roger Kingdom since 1989. Tinch won four more Diamond League races in Xiamen in 13.06, in Keqiao in 12.87 (world seasonal lead and fourth fastest time in history), in Chorzow in 13.03 and Lausanne in 12.98 and finished second in Rome and Monaco with 13.14 and at the US Championships in Eugene in 13.03m. He reached the semifinal in his first appearance at the World Championships in Budapest 2023.

Grant Holloway won three gold medals of the World Championships in Doha 2019, Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023 and the Olympic title in Paris 2024 in 12.99. This year he won his third world indoor title in Nanjing 2025 in the 60 metres hurdles. He holds the world indoor record in the 60 metres hurdles with 7.27 and the second fastest time in history in the 110 metres hurdles with 12.81.

Ja’Kobe Tharp made his breakthrough last year, when he won the world under 20 gold medal in Lima in 13.05. Tharp continued his good period of form by winning the NCAA title in 13.05 and the US Championships final in a PB of 13.01.

Dylan Beard finished second at the Diamond League in Paris improving his PB to 13.02 after clocking 13.08 in the heats. Beard finished second at the US Championships in 13.04 qualifying for the World Championships for the first time in his career.

Rachid Muratake recently broke the Japanese record with 12.92 in Fukui and finished fourth at the Diamond League meeting in Paris in 13.08. The Japanese team also features Shunsuke Izumiya, who finished fifth in the 110 metres hurdles in Budapest 2023 in 13.19 and fourth in the long jump with 8.21m.

Just Kwaou Mathey won the French title in Talence in 12.99 becoming the third hurdler from his country to break the 13 seconds barrier after Pascal Martinot Lagarde and Ladji Doucouré. The French team also features 2022 world under 20 champion Sasha Zhoya, who won the Diamond League title in Brussels 2024 and improved his PB to 13.06 this year, and Wilhelm Belocian, double silver medallist in the 60m hurdles at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn in 7.45 and at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in 7.54 in 2025.

Jason Joseph won in Rome in 13.14 beating Tinch in a photo-finish and equalled his Swiss record with 13.07 twice in Paris and Lucerne.

Lorenzo Simonelli won the European title in his home city Rome improving the Italian record to 13.05. This year the Italian hurdler won the national title in a seasonal best of 13.18 and finished fourth in Lausanne in 13.21.

Enrique Llopis won the European silver medal in Rome in 13.16 and finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris in 13.20. Llopis placed second at the Diamond League in Zurich in 13.12.

The other top names are Orlando Bennett from Jamaica, seventh at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, and Enzo Diessl from Austria, European under 23 champion in Bergen 2025.

400 metres hurdles:

Karsten Warholm returns to Tokyo with a fond memory four years after winning the Olympic gold medal in a world record of 45.94. Warholm will renew his rivalry against Raj Benjamin and Alison Dos Santos in a re-match of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic final.

Warholm will chase his fourth world title after winning in London 2017 (48.35), Doha 2019 (47.42) and Budapest 2023 (46.89). The Norwegian star started the 2025 Diamond League season with two back-to-back wins in Xiamen in the 300 metres hurdles with a world all-time best of 33.05 and in Keqiao with 47.28. He improved his 300m hurdles world all-time record to 32.67 at the Bislett Games in Oslo and finished third in Stockolm in 47.41 behind Raj Benjamin and Alison Dos Santos. In August Warholm set the world lead, the Diamond League record and the third fastest time in history with 46.28 in Chorzow and won his third Diamond League title in Zurich in a meeting record of 46.70.

Raj Benjamin won two Olympic medals, finishing second in Tokyo in a North American record of 46.17 and first in Paris in 46.46 and three world medals (two-time silver in Doha 2019 in 47.66 and Eugene 2022 with 46.89 and bronze in Budapest 2023 in 47.56m). This year Benjamin won two Diamond League races in Stockolm in 46.54 and Paris in 46.93 and the US title in 46.89 and finished second at the Prefontaine classic in Eugene in 46.71.

The US team will be also represented by 2024 NCAA champion Caleb Dean and Chris Robinson, who finished second and third at the National Championships in 48.45 and 48.56 respectively.

Alison Dos Santos won the world title in Eugene 2022 improving his South American record to 46.29, two Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo 2021 in 46.72 and Paris 2024 in 47.26. This year the Brazilian hurdler won in Eugene in 46.65 and finished second in Stockolm in 46.68. He also claimed three Grand Slam Track races in Kingston in 47.61, Miami in 47.97 and Philadelphia in 48.08.

Ezekiel Nathaniel from Nigeria set the 400 metres African indoor record with 44.74 in Lubbock and won the NCAA title in 47.49 in Eugene. Nathaniel finished third at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene in 47.88, second in Chorzow in 47.31 behind Warholm and won the first Diamond League race of his career in Lausanne in 48.08 in rainy conditions. The Nigerian hurdler took third place in Zurich in 47.56.

Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba won the world bronze medal in Doha 2019 and finished fifth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. He finished second in Paris Diamond League in a seasonal best of 47.09 and Zurich in 47.45 and third in Chorzow in 47.34.

The other top contenders are Roshawn Clarke from Jamaica, fourth at the World Championships in Budapest, Matheus Lima from Brazil, second at the Diamond League meeting in Keqiao in a PB of 48.08, Alessandro Sibilio, seventh in the Olympic Games in Tokyo and European silver medallist in Rome 2024 in a national record of 47.50, Owe Fisher Breiholz from Germany, European under 23 champion in a lifetime best of 48.01, Berke Akcam from Turkey, world under 20 champion in Nairobi 2021 and fifth at the European Championships in Rome 2024.

Pole vault:

Armand Mondo Duplantis is aiming to win his third world outdoor gold medal in the men’s pole vault after claiming victories in Eugene 2022 with a world record of 6.22m and in Budapest 2023 with 6.10m. Duplantis won his third European title in Rome, his second Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024 improving the world record to 6.25m. Last August Duplantis set the 13th world record of his career with 6.29m clearance at the Continental Tour Gold meeting in Budapest, adding one cm to his previous record of 6.28m set at the Diamond League meeting in Stockolm in front of his home fans on 15 June. During the 2025 season the Swedish star won the world indoor title in Nanjing with 6.15m, his fifth Diamond League title in a row in Zurich with 6.00m beating Emmanouil Karalis on countback. He has remained unbeaten in 38 consecutive competitions.

Duplantis will renew his rivalry against European indoor champion and Olympic champion Emmanouil Karalis, who set the Greek record of 6.05m when he finished second at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. Karalis improved his mark to 6.08m at the Greek Championships in Volos moving to fourth in the world all-time list behind Duplantis, Renaud Lavillienie and Sergey Bubka. The Greek vaulter won the Street Event in Lausanne with 6.02m in rainy weather conditions and finished second with 6.00m in the Diamond League meeting in Zurich. Karalis cleared the 6 metres barrier eleven times in his career.

Kurtis Marshall will chase his second medal at the World Championships after finishing third in Budapest with 5.95m. He placed second in Stockolm with 5.90m and in Monaco with 5.92m, Budapest with 5.82m and Silesia with 5.90m this year.

Sam Kendricks, Olympic silver medallist in Paris 2024 and two-time world champion in London 2017 and Doha 2019, won the world indoor bronze medal in Nanjing last March with 5.90m and finished third at the Diamond League in Zurich with 5.80m.

Renaud Lavillenie won the French title in Talence with 5.82m securing his qualifying spot for the World Championships in Tokyo and tied second place with his compatriot Thibaut Collet in Lausanne with 5.82m. Collet, fifth at the World Championships in Budapest with 5.90m, achieved the qualifying standard for Tokyo with his result in Lausanne.

Menno Vloon from the Netherlands set a seasonal best of 5.92m at the ISTAF meeting in Berlin and finished third in Chorzow with 5.90m and fifth in Lausanne with 5.82m.

The other athletes to watch are Ersu Sasma from Turkey, fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 5.85m and national record holder with 5.92m in Berlin, and Austin Miller, US champion with 5.92m in Eugene 2025.

Long jump:

Simon Ehammer from Switzerland will double up in the long jump and in the decathlon. Ehammer won his second Diamond League title with 8.32m in Zurich in front of his home fans. Ehammer finished third at the European Championships in Rome and fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris and set a seasonal best of 8.34m in the long jump during the decathlon competition at the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis.

Mattia Furlani from Italy placed second in the Diamond League Final in Zurich with 8.30m, the second best outdoor performance of the season. Furlani won the world indoor title in Nanjing with 8.30m, the European indoor silver with 8.13m in Apeldoorn last March, silver medals at the World Indoor Championships with 8.22m in Glasgow and at the European Championships in Rome with 8.38m and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris with 8.34m. He placed in the top three in seven of his nine outdoor competitions this season and won the Italian title in Caorle with 8.26m.

Olympic, world and European champion Miltiadis Tentoglou will aim to win his second consecutive world outdoor title two years after his triumph in Budapest with 8.52m. The Greek star also won gold medals at the Olympic Games in Paris with 8.48m and at the European Championships in Rome with a PB of 8.65m in 2024. Tentoglou set the world lead of 8.46m at the European Team Championships in Madrid, finished second at the London Team Championships with 8.19m and won the Greek title in Volos with 8.12m.

Liam Adcock won the world indoor bronze medal in Nanjng, claimed the first Diamond League competition of his career with a PB of 8.34m in Rome and finished third in Zurich with 8.24m.

Carey McLeod won the world indoor bronze medal in Glasgow 2024 and the Jamaican title in Kingston this year with 8.16m.

The other athletes to watch are Bozhidar Saraboyukov, European indoor champion in Apeldoorn 2025 with 8.13m and European under 20 silver medallist in Jerusalem 2023, 18-year-old Cuban jumper Jorge Hodelin, who set a PB of 8.34m this year, and Chinese jumpers Shi Yuhao, winner at the Diamond League meeting in Keqiao with 8.21m, Zhang Mingkun, winner in Xiamen with 8.18m.

Triple jump:

Andy Diaz Hernandez has enjoyed a successful season winning the European indoor title with 17.71m, the world indoor gold medal in Nanjing in the Italian indoor record of 17.80m and his third Diamond League title with 17.56m. Diaz Hernandez is aiming to add a world medal to the bronze he won at the Olympic Games in Paris with 17.64m. The Italian team will also feature Andrea Dallavalle, European indoor bronze medallist in Apeldoorn 2025.

Pedro Pablo Pichardo won three gold medals at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and at the European Championships in Munich 2022 and last year’s edition of the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Pichardo won in Keqiao with 17.03m and finished second in Oslo with 17.06m and in Zurich with a seasonal best of 17.47m.

Jordan Scott from Jamaica won four Diamond League competitions in Xiamen with 17.27m, Oslo with 17.34m, Paris with 17.27m and Monaco with a lifetime best of 17.52m. He qualified for the Tokyo World Championships with a win at the Jamaican Championships in Kingston with 17.11m.

Fabrice Zango won the world outdoor gold medal in Budapest 2023 with 17,64m and the world indoor title in Glasgow in 2024 and the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2021 with 17.47m.

Yasser Tricki from Algeria, world indoor silver medallist in Glasgow 2024, placed second in Monaco with 17.23m and third in Zurich with 17.42m.

The other athletes to watch are Jordan Diaz from Spain, European champion in Rome 2024 with 18.18m, Melvin Raffin, French champion in Talence with 17.52m, Max Hess from Germany, European indoor silver medallist in Apeldoorn 2025.

High jump:

Hamish Kerr will aim to complete the double of major titles one year after winning the Olympic gold medal with 2.36m on countback over Shelby McEwen. Kerr claimed his first Diamond League title in Zurich with 2.32m and set a seasonal best of 2.33m in Chorzow.

Sanghyeok Woo from South Korea is chasing another title this year after winning the world indoor gold medal in Nanjing with 2.31m. Woo continued his good period of form this summer by winning two Diamond League competitions in Rome with 2.32m and Monaco with 2.34m.

Oleg Doroshchuk from the Ukraine won the European Indoor in Apeldoorn 2025 with 2.34m and the European bronze medal in Rome 2024 with 2.26m. Doroshchuk won in Brussels with 2.25m and finished in Zurich with 2.30m.

The US team will be formed by Shelby McEwen, Olympic silver medallist in Paris with 2.36m, Ju’Vaughn Harrison, world silver medallist in Budapest with 2.36m.

Italian star Gianmarco Tamberi will return to Tokyo where he won the Olympic gold medal in 2021. Tamberi will defend his world title two years after his win in Budapest with 2.36m. He set a seasonal best of 2.20m in Helbronn but he is able to raise his standard when it matters most. The Italian team will feature Matteo Sioli, European indoor bronze medallist with 2.29m and European under 23 champion with his PB of 2.30m, Stefano Sottile, fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 2.34m, and Manuel Lando, fourth at the European indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.

Jan Stefela won the European indoor silver medal in Apeldoorn 2025, cleared 2.33m at the European Team Championships in Madrid and finished second in Monaco with 2.33m.

Men’s shot put:

Double Olympic and world champion Ryan Crouser will make his come-back at the World Championships in Tokyo after missing the entire season due to an elbow injury. Crouser set a world record of 23.56m in 2023 and made history as the first shot putter to win three Olympic gold medals in Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024. He won back-to-back world titles in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. Crouser returns to Tokyo where he set the Olympic record of 23.30m.

Josh Awotunde, world bronze medal in Eugene 2022, won the US title this year in the same venue with 22.47m and the NACAC Championships in Freeport with 21.68m this year.

Payton Otterdahl set a seasonal best of 22.35m when he finished second at the US Championships. Otterdahl won two Diamond League competitions this season in Rabat with 21.97m and Chorzow with 22.28m and placed second in Zurich with 22.07m. He finished fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 22.03m and fifth at the World Championships in Budapest.

His compatriot Adrian Piperi finished fourth at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with 22.09m and third at the US Championships and in Lausanne with 21.49m.

Leonardo Fabbri from Italy will aim at winning his second world medal after finishing second in Budapest 2023 with 22.34m. Fabbri won the European outdoor gold medal in Rome with 22.45m and the Diamond League Final in Brussels with the Italian record of 22.98m. This year Fabbri set the world lead with 22.82m and threw beyond the 22 metres barrier five times. Fabbri showed his consistency by finishing second in two consecutive Diamond League competitions in Chorzow with 22.10m and Lausanne with 21.77m. He beat Crouser twice at the Diamond League meetings in London and Brussels last year.

Tom Walsh from New Zealand will seek his third world medal after winning gold in London 2017 with 22.03m and bronze in Doha 2019 with 22.90. Walsh also won two Olympic bronze medals in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2021.

Men’s discus throw:

Mykolas Alekna is aiming to win his first world title after finishing second in Eugene 2022 and third in Budapest 2023. The Lithuanian thrower also won the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024 with 69.97m and two European medals (gold in Munich 2022 and bronze in Rome 2024).This year he broke his world record with 75.56m in Ramona and won the Diamond League title in Zurich with 68.89m and two more meetings in Eugene with 70.97m and London with a Diamond League record of 71.70m.

Kristjan Ceh from Slovenia will aim to win his third world medal after finishing first in Eugene 2022 with 71.13m and second in Budapest with 70.02m. The Slovenian thrower won in Stockolm with 69.73m and finished second in London with 68.83m and improved his national record to 72.36m.

Daniel Stahl from Sweden won the world gold medal in Budapest 2023 with 71.46m beating Ceh. The Swedish thrower returns to the venue where he won the Olympic gold medal in 2021.

Matthew Denny from Australia is seeking his first world medal one year after finishing third at the Olympic Games in Paris with 69.31m. Denny won two consecutive editions of Diamond League Final in Eugene 2023 with 68.43m and Brussels 2024 with 69.96m.

Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings won the NCAA title in Eugene with 69.31m and his first Diamond League competition in Brussels with 69.66m beating Alekna both times. Mullings improved his PB to 72.01m in Ramona last August.

The line-up also features Lawrence Okoye from Great Britain, European bronze medallist in Munich 2022 and third at the Diamond League meeting in London 2025 with 67.24mm in 2025) and Henrik Janssen from Germany, who set a PB of 69.94m.

Men’s javelin throw:

Julian Weber, European champion in Munich 2022, is seeking his first world medal after finishing fourth in the past two editions in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023. Weber won his first Diamond League title in Zurich this year improving his PB to 91.51m. The German won two more Diamond League wins in Doha with 91.06m and in Brussels with 89.65m and finished second in Paris with 87.88m.

Neeraj Chopra has a fond memory of Tokyo where he won his first Olympic gold medal in 2024. Chopra will defend his world title two years after winning in Budapest. Chopra finished second in Doha with a PB of 90.23m and won in Paris with 88.16m and Ostrava with 85.29m.

Two-time world champion Anderson Peters will seek his third world title after claiming two titles in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022. Walcott set a seasonal best of 86.30m in Brussels.

Luiz Mauricio Da Silva from Brazil improved his own South American record to 91.00m at the National Championships in Sao Paulo last August and finished third at the Paris Diamond League meeting with 86.62m.

Julius Yego from Kenya won the world gold medal in Beijing 2015 and the Olympic silver in Rio de Janeiro 2016. Yego returned to his best form when he won the third Diamond League competition of his career in Chorzow with 83.60m.

Hammer throw:

Bence Halasz from Hungary is chasing his first global gold medal after finishing second at the Olympic Games in Paris with 79.97m, third at two editions of the World Championships in Doha 2019 and Eugene 2022. Halasz improved his PB to 83.18m at the Memorial Istvan Gyulai in Budapest.

Ethan Katzberg from Canada is aiming to add another medal to his collection that includes gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest 2023 with 81.25m and at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 with 84.12m. Katzberg set a seasonal best of 82.73 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi.

Mykhaylo Kokhan from Ukraine won the Olympic bronze medal in Paris with 79.39m and finished fifth at two editions of the World Championships in Doha 2019 and Budapest 2023.

Rudy Winkler improved his US record to 83.16m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene last July.

Yann Chaussinand from France placed fifth at the European Championships in Rome 2024 and improved his PB to 81.91m in Zagreb.

The line-up also features five-time world champion Pawel Fajdek from Poland, who won the national title with 79.07m this year, and Merlin Hummel from Germany, second at the European Team Championships in Madrid with 81.27m.

4x100 relay:

The US team will defend their world title from Budapest 2023. World and Olympic 100 metres champion Noah Lyles anchored the US team to gold in 37.38 ahead of Italy and Jamaica. Lyles will be again part of a strong team that features Kenny Bednarek, Courtney Bromell, Trayvon Bromell, Christian Coleman and T’Mars McCallium. All these sprinters have dipped under the 9.90 barrier in 2025.

South Africa won the Olympic silver medal in Paris setting the African record and gold at the World Relays in Guangzhou in 37.61. The South African team will feature Akani Simbine, Gift Leotlela and Rethsiditswe Mlenga.

Jamaica won the world bronze medal in Budapest 2023. Ackeem Blake, Oblique Seville, Ryiem Forde and Rohan Watson, who were part of the team in the Hungarian team, will be joined by Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson.

Italy will return to Tokyo where they won the Olympic gold medal in an Italian record of 37.50. Lorenzo Patta, Marcell Jacobs, Eseosa Desalu and Filippo Tortu will be part of the team for the World Championships in the Japanese capital.

Canada will feature André De Grasse, Jerome Blake, Aaron Brown and Brandon Rodney, who won the Olympic gold medal in Paris last year.

Great Britain will be formed by Zharnel Hughes, Jeremiah Azu and Eugene Amo Dadzie, who recently improved his PB to 9.87 in Lee Valley.

Japan won world bronze medals in London 2017 and Doha 2019 and aim to continue this tradition in front of their home fans.

Men’s 4x400 relay:

The US team is seeking the 13th title in history in the men’s 4x400 relay. This year’s Diamond League champion Jacory Patterson will lead a strong team, that also features Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion Raj Benjamin, Bryce Deadmon and Jenoah McKiver. At last year’s Olympic Games Benjamin anchored the US team to the gold medal in 2:54.43, Olympic record and the second fastest time in history.

Olympic 200 metres champion Letsile Tebogo crossed the finish-line in second place 2:54.53 for the Botswanan team, setting the African record and the third fastest time in history. The US team and Botswana will renew their rivalry. Great Britain won the Olympic Games in Paris setting the European record with 2:55.83 and will be a strong contender for a medal in Tokyo.

South Africa won the 4x400 ahead of Belgium and Botswana at the World Relays in Guangzhou. Zakhiti Nene anchored the South African team to a world seasonal lead and national record of 2.57.30 in a high-quality competition where the top five teams broke the 3 minutes barrier.

Belgium has a strong tradition in the 4x400 relay and will fight for a medal after finishing third at two editions of the World Championships in 2019 and 2023.

France won the silver medal behind the USA at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

The Netherlands finished runner-up to the USA at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021.

Jamaica won world silver medals at two editions of the World Championships in 2019 and 2022, at the World indoor Championships in Nanjing 2025 and gold at last month’s NACAC Championships in Freeport.

Japan will feature Joseph Nakajima, Fuga Sato and Kentaro Sato, who were part of the team that finished sixth at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Decathlon:

Sander Skotheim from Norway leads the men’s decathlon world list with his national record of 8909 points set last May when he won in Goetzis. Skotheim is seeking his third gold medal of the season after claiming victories in the heptathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn with 6558 points and at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing with 6475 points. Last year Skotheim claimed the European outdoor silver medal in the decathlon in Rome with 8635 points.

USA’s Kyle Garland finished second in Goetzis with 8626 points and won the US title in Eugene with a PB of 8869 points. The other top US decathlete is Heath Baldwin, national champion in 2024 with 8625 points and fourth at the World Indoor Championships in the heptathlon with 6188 points.

Leo Neugebauer won the Olympic silver medal in Paris with 8748 points and finished fifth with 8645 points at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. Neugebauer finished fifth at the Hypo meeting in Goetzis with 8555 points. The German decathlete made his breakthrough when he won the NCAA title in 2023 with 8836 points breaking the collegiate record and the German record set by Jurgen Hingsen with 8832 points in 1984. Neugebauer won his second consecutive NCAA title in 2024 improving his national record to 8961 points.

Nicklas Kaul will aim to win his second world medal six years after claiming gold in Doha with a PB of 8691 points. Kaul also won the European title in Munich 2022 with 8545 points. The German decathlete finished third in Goetzis last June with 8575 points. The German team will completed by Till Steinforth, double bronze medallist in the heptathlon at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn and at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in 2025.

Damian Warner won the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 2021 with a national record of 9018 points and four world medals (silver in Beijing 2015 and Budapest 2023 and bronze in Moscow 2013 and Doha 2019). Warner won the Hypo Meeting in Goetzis for the eighth time in his career with 8995 points.

Simon Ehammer will double up in the decathlon and long jump in Tokyo. Ehammer won the world indoor gold medal in the heptathlon in Glasgow 2024 with 6418 points and finished second to Skotheim at the European indoor Championships in Apeldoorn 2025 with a Swiss record of 6506 points. Last June he placed third in Goetzis with a Swiss record of 8575 points in the decathlon.

Ayden Owens Delerme from Puerto Rico won in Talence with 8478 points and placed seventh in Goetzis with 8486 points. Owens Delerme made his breakthrough in 2022 when he won the NCAA title with 8457 points and placed fourth at the World Championships in Eugene with 8532 points.

The strong Estonian team will be represented by Johannes Erm, European champion in Rome 2024 with 8764 points, and Janek Oiglane, fifth at the Olympic Games in Paris with 8572 points.

Marathon:

The top-three of last March’s World Marathon Major race in Tokyo will return to the Japanese capital for the World Championships. Tadese Takele will be the fastest entrant with his PB of 2:03:23 set when he won the Tokyo Marathon. The 23-year-old Ethiopian runner previously finished third in 2023 in 2:03:24 and seventh in 2024 in 2:05:13.

Takele will renew his rivalry against his compatriot Deresa Geleta, who finished second in Tokyo in 2:03:51 ahead of Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich from Kenya, who crossed the finish-line in 2:04:00 in the Japanese Marathon.

Tesfaye Deriba has the fourth fastest time among the entrants with his PB of 2:04:13 set at the Barcelona Marathon.

The Kenyan line-up will be completed by Erick Sang, third at the Hamburg Marathon in 2:04:30, and Kennedy Kimutai, fourth in Rotterdam in 2:05:27.

Vincent Kiplangat became the second runner from Uganda to win the world marathon title in Budapest 2023 following in the footsteps of Stephen Kiprotich, who achieved this feat in Moscow 2013. Kiplangat set his PB of 2:05:09 in 2022 and won the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.

Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and finished second at last April’s Boston Marathon in 2:05:06.

Emilie Cairess from Great Britain finished third at the 2024 London Marathon in a PB of 2:05:39 and fourth at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Maru Teferi from Israel won the world silver medal in Budapest 2023 and set a national record of 2:04:44 in Valencia in 2024.

Yeman Crippa won two European gold medals in the 10000m in Munich 2022 and in the half marathon in Rome 2024. Crippa set the Italian record of 2:06:06 in 2024. The Italian team will be also represented by Yohannes Chiappinelli, who improved Crippa’s national record with 2:05:24 in Valencia in 2024 and lliass Aouani, winner at the European Road Running Championships in Leuven this year.

The German team will be formed by Amanal Petros, who set a PB of 2:04:58 in Berlin in 2024 and a national record of 59:31 in the Berlin Half Marathon in 2025, and Richard Ringer, who set a PB of 2:05:46 in 2024.

The other top names are Cameron Levins from Canada, who finished fourth at the World Championships in Eugene 2022 and set a PB of 2:05:36 in 2023, Elroy Gelant from South Africa, who set a PB of 2:05:36 in Hamburg in 2025, and Suldan Hassan from Sweden, who set a lifetime best of 2:05:57 in Tokyo in 2025.

The Japanese team will be represented by Ryota Kondo, second in Osaka in a PB of 2:05:39, and Kyoohei Hosoya, winner in Fukuoka in a lifetime best of 2:05:16.

20 km walking race:

Toshikazu Yamanishi from Japan improved the world record in the 20 km walking race with 1:16:10 in Kobe last February. Yamanishi is aiming to add another gold medal to his collection that includes two world titles in Doha 2019 and Eugene and the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo 2021.

Yamanishi’s compatriot Satoshi Maruo set a PB of 1:17:42 this season. The home team also features Kento Yoshikawa, who has the fifth fastest time among the entrants with 1:17:38.

Caio Bonfim from Brazil won world bronze medals in London 2017 and Budapest 2023 and the Olympic silver medal in Paris 2024. Bonfim also claimed the 2024 Race Walking Tour.

Canada’s Evan Dunfee improved the North American record to 1.17:39 in Adelaide last February.

Asian champion Wang Zhaozhao leads the Chinese team with his PB of 1:17:30. Wang will be joined by Qian Haifeng and Li Chenjie.

Paul McGrath from Spain won the European Race Walking Championships in Podebrady in 1:18:05 missing his PB by just 10 seconds.

Perseus Karlstrom from Sweden is aiming to reach the world podium for the fifth time after winning three bronze medals (20 km in Doha 2019 and 20 km and 35 km in Eugene 2022) and a silver (20 km in Budapest 2023).

The Italian hopes are carried by Francesco Fortunato, European bronze medallist in the 20 km in Rome 2024.

Twenty-year-old Ethiopian walker Misganaw Wakuma finished sixth at the Olympic Games and set the African record if 1:18:32 at altitude this year.

35 km walking race:

Evan Dunfee from Canada, bronze medallist in the 50 km at the World Championships in Doha 2019 and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, won the 35 km in Dudince last March setting the world record with 2:21:40. This record was improved by Tokyo 2021 Olympic 20 km champion Massimo Stano, who clocked 2:20:43 at the European Walking Team Championships in Podebrady. Stano was forced to withdraw from the World Championships due to a harmstring injury.

The hopes of the Japanese crowd will be carried by Masatora Kawano, who won silver in Eugene 2022 and bronze in Budapest 2023. Kawano has not contested a 35 km this year, but clocked 1:18:39 in the 20 km. Kawano held the previous world record before Dunfee broke it. The Japanese team will also feature Satoshi Maruo, who finished fourth in the 50 km at the World Championships in London 2017, and Hayato Katsuki, who holds the fourth fastest time among the entrants with 2.24:38.

German record holder Christoher Linke is aiming to win his first global medal after finishing fifth at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and at the World Championships in Budapest 2023. Linke improved the national record to 2:23:21 at the European Race Walking Team Championships in Podebrady 2021.

The Spanish team is led by 2015 world 20 km champion Miguel Angel Lopez, who improved the Spanish 35 km record with 2:23:48, the third fastest time among the entrants.

José Luis Doctor from Mexico is the fifth fastest entrant with his PB of 2:24:41. His compatriot Andres Eduardo Olivas Nunez set a seasonal best of 2:25:08.