World Athletics Championships 2025 Set to Conclude Thrilling Track and Field Season in Tokyo. Image- eNCA.
(The Post News)– The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, will bring the curtain down on a captivating season of global athletics.
Great Britain Eyes More Podium Success
Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland enters Tokyo with high hopes, spearheaded by Olympic silver medallist and reigning European champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m. After consistent performances over the past few seasons, Hodgkinson remains one of Britain’s best hopes for gold. She will be joined by a strong contingent of returning medalists from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, including Georgia Hunter Bell, Josh Kerr, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, and Matthew Hudson-Smith.
Josh Kerr, who famously dethroned Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win gold in the 1500m at Budapest, will aim to defend his title in one of the most anticipated events of the championships. Kerr will face stiff competition from a rejuvenated Ingebrigtsen (if fit), American Olympic champion Cole Hocker, and Dutch teenager Niels Laros, who has quickly risen through the ranks as a serious contender.
In the field events, Johnson-Thompson will look to build on her world heptathlon gold from 2023, while Hudson-Smith hopes to improve on his previous podium finish in the men’s 400m. Britain will also aim to replicate its relay dominance, having claimed a hat-trick of medals in Budapest across the 4x100m and 4x400m events.
South Africa’s Stars Look to Shine in Tokyo
South Africa, a consistent presence on the world athletics stage, heads into Tokyo with a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talent. The nation will rely heavily on its sprint squad, particularly in the men’s 100m and 200m events, where the likes of Akani Simbine and rising star Benjamin Richardson could pose a serious challenge to the favorites.
In the longer sprints, Wayde van Niekerk, the 400 m world record holder, is expected to make a return to major competition after years of injury setbacks. If fit, van Niekerk could spark one of the most emotional comebacks in recent championships. South Africa’s 4x400m relay team, which has shown flashes of brilliance in recent competitions, will also be a team to watch.
Field event hopefuls such as Kyle Blignaut in the shot put and Ruswahl Samaai in the long jump aim to revive South Africa’s medal chances beyond the track. The country’s strong tradition in jumping events could see a return to the podium after a quiet showing in Budapest.
Global Superstars Command the Spotlight
The championships will once again feature some of the biggest names in athletics. American sprint king Noah Lyles headlines the men’s 100m and 200m fields after dominating both events in 2023 and 2024. Lyles will attempt to defend his world titles and solidify his legacy ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
In the pole vault, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis remains the clear favorite as he continues to raise the bar—quite literally—with each competition. American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone returns to the 400m hurdles as the reigning Olympic and world champion, aiming to extend her dominance in the event.
However, not all stars enter Tokyo in peak condition. Injuries have disrupted preparations for Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Both athletes face race-against-time recoveries that cast doubt on their ability to compete at their best—or at all.
Rivalries and Redemption on the Track
Tokyo 2025 promises to deliver several blockbuster matchups. In the men’s 1500m, the battle between Kerr, Hocker, Laros, and a potentially returning Ingebrigtsen is set to be one of the meet’s signature races. Meanwhile, the women’s 800m features a likely clash between Hodgkinson and American rival Athing Mu—if she competes—in a race that has become one of the sport’s most compelling rivalries.
The relays, always a crowd favorite, could once again swing the medal tables. The USA, Jamaica, Britain, and South Africa are all expected to field strong squads in the 4x100m and 4x400m events, setting the stage for thrilling finishes and possible upsets.
Looking Back: Budapest 2023 Highlights
At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Great Britain enjoyed a strong showing with medals from Kerr, Hodgkinson, Johnson-Thompson, Ben Pattison, Zharnel Hughes, and Hudson-Smith, along with relay medals across multiple events.
South Africa, meanwhile, endured a quieter campaign in Budapest but showed signs of a resurgence through promising performances by younger athletes and near-podium finishes in sprint events.
World Athletics Championships: Nine Days in Tokyo
Tokyo will host the championships from September 28 to October 6, 2025, welcoming thousands of athletes and fans from around the globe. Organizers have scheduled morning and evening sessions daily, with finals scattered across the program to maintain peak excitement throughout.
As the final major event before the 2026 athletics calendar begins, Tokyo 2025 serves not only as a global showdown but also as a stepping stone toward the next Olympic Games. For many athletes, it’s a chance to leave a lasting mark, redeem past disappointments, or emerge as new icons on the world stage.
Whether it’s the speed of the 100m, the precision of the pole vault, or the endurance of the 10,000m, every event in Tokyo is set to add to an already unforgettable athletics season.
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