An integrated atmospheric and air quality monitoring campaign was delivered through a collaboration between World Athletics, Sapienza University of Rome and&nbsp;the organisers of Acea Run Rome The Marathon&nbsp;during the World Athletics Elite Label road race in March.
The campaign combined static monitoring at the finish area with dynamic monitoring on the racecourse, reflecting the organisers&rsquo; request for both fixed-site and in-motion measurements during race operations. Monitoring was conducted on race day and in the days preceding the event, with static systems deployed to establish baseline conditions and enable comparison with race-day exposure.
For Sapienza&rsquo;s Department of Physics, the monitoring activities were delivered in collaboration with Serco within the BAQUNIN project (<a href="http://www.baqunin.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boundary-layer Air Quality analysis Using Network of Instruments</a>), funded by the European Space Agency and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. This positioned the Rome Marathon campaign within a broader framework of advanced environmental observation and research.
<h3>A multi-sensor network along the route and on official vehicles</h3>
To ensure spatial coverage along the marathon corridor, the partnership deployed a network of fixed sensors at selected points on the racecourse, alongside mobile monitoring systems operating during the race. Additional devices were installed through Sapienza University&rsquo;s cross-department collaboration, with instruments positioned along the route and on official vehicles moving on the course. The combination of static and mobile platforms enabled the capture of spatial and temporal variation in air quality across the event footprint.
Sensors recorded key parameters including particulate matter, gaseous pollutants and meteorological variables, generating a dataset designed to support both operational understanding and future scientific analysis.
<h3>Supporting athlete and public health in urban sport environments</h3>
By integrating research-grade monitoring with the delivery of a major mass-participation road race, the initiative aimed to improve understanding of environmental conditions experienced by athletes, staff, spectators and the broader city environment during competition. The resulting data will undergo further analysis and may contribute to future work on physical activity and air quality in urban settings, as well as strategies to support health protection and risk communication at major events.
This campaign builds on World Athletics&rsquo; wider commitment to environmental responsibility and evidence-based risk management in sport, and demonstrates how major events can serve as platforms for innovation, knowledge generation and inter-institutional collaboration.
&nbsp;

An integrated atmospheric and air quality monitoring campaign was delivered through a collaboration between World Athletics, Sapienza University of Rome and the organisers of Acea Run Rome The Marathon

World Athletics and Sapienza University deliver air quality campaign at Rome Marathon

Sabastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo will renew their rivalry at the TCS London Marathon while world record-holder Tigst Assefa will defend her title at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (26).
Sawe won last year&rsquo;s race in a dominant 2:02:27 &ndash; the second-fastest ever London Marathon time and a performance just 22 seconds off the PB of 2:02:05 he set in Valencia in 2024 on his debut at the distance. After his win in London last year, Sawe clinched victory in Berlin in 2:02:16, meaning he has won all of his marathons to date, running well below 2:03:00 in all three of them.
Sawe predicts that whoever wins the race will likely have to break the course record of 2:01:25 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
&ldquo;The TCS London Marathon course is one of the most beautiful and fastest courses in the world,&rdquo; said Sawe. &ldquo;It was my first time running in London last year and it was one of the proudest moments of my life to cross the line as champion. I am excited to be coming back in 2026 and I know now a little bit more about what I can expect. I am sure with the quality of athletes coming to London it will take another fast time to win again, perhaps the type of effort the great Kelvin Kiptum put in when he set the course record in 2023.&rdquo;
Kiplimo was runner-up to Sawe in London on what was his marathon debut, setting a Ugandan record of 2:03:37. He improved that record to 2:02:23 when winning in Chicago in October, then went on to claim his third consecutive world cross-country title in Tallahassee. Last month, he set a world half marathon record (pending ratification) of 57:20 in Lisbon.
His compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, the world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder, will be making his London Marathon debut. The double Olympic gold medallist and three-time world 10,000m champion has contested three marathons to date, his best performance being his 2:04:52 run to finish fifth in Amsterdam last October.
Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola will be making his fifth appearance at the London Marathon, having finished in the top six on four occasions. The 2022 world champion has a lifetime best of 2:03:39 and earlier this year he won the Doha Marathon in 2:05:40.
Fellow Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, the two-time world 10,000m silver medallist, will be making his marathon debut.
Kenya&rsquo;s 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Deresa Geleta, the ninth-fastest man in history over the marathon (2:02:38) and Germany&rsquo;s world marathon silver medallist Amanal Petros are other stellar names in this year&rsquo;s line-up.
British fans lining the course will be cheering on home stars Patrick Dever, third at last year&rsquo;s New York Marathon, Philip Sesemann and Mahamed Mahamed.
Tigst Assefa, who won last year in a women-only world record of 2:15:50, will start as favourite in the women&rsquo;s race. The Ethiopian is a proven competitor in big races, having chalked up two wins in Berlin and earned world and Olympic silver medals.
&ldquo;Winning last year&rsquo;s TCS London Marathon and setting a women-only world record was one of the proudest moments of my career and I want to repeat that again this year,&rdquo; said Assefa, whose PB of 2:11:53, set in Berlin in 2023, was a world record in a mixed race at the time.
Assefa has finished in the top two in her past six marathons. In fact, only two women have beaten her over the marathon distance in the past four years: Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and world champion Peres Jepchirchir. Both were originally due to compete in London, but they recently withdrew due to injury.
Assefa will still face strong opposition in the form of Kenyan duo Joyciline Jepkosgei, the 2021 London Marathon winner, and Hellen Obiri, two-time Boston and New York winner.
Jepkosgei, who finished in between Assefa and Hassan in London last year, went on to win the Valencia Marathon in December in a world-leading PB of 2:14:00, beating Jepchirchir in the process. The 2019 New York Marathon champion is a former world record-holder at the half marathon.
Obiri will be making her London Marathon debut. Aside from the 2024 Olympics, where Obiri earned bronze, all seven of her other marathons have been in the US. She has won twice in Boston (2023 and 2024) and in New York (2023 and 2025), smashing the course record with 2:19:51 with her latest victory.
Other podium contenders include 2021 London runner-up Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia, Bahraini record-holder Eunice Chumba, world half marathon bronze medallist Catherine Reline Amanang&rsquo;ole of Kenya and world marathon bronze medallist Julia Paternain of Uruguay.
Eilish McColgan, Jess Warner-Judd and Rose Harvey lead the British entrants.
<h3>Leading entries</h3>
Women Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:11:53 Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:14:00 Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:17:41 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:17:58 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:02 Catherine Reline Amanangole (KEN) 2:20:34 Balemelay Shumet (ETH) 2:21:59 Rose Harvey (GBR) 2:23:21 Eilish McColgan (GBR) 2:24:25 Jessica Warner-Judd (GBR) 2:24:45 Marta Galimany (ESP) 2:26:14 Julia Paternain (URU) 2:27:09
Men Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 2:02:05 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:02:23 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:38 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:13 Tamirat Tola (ETH) 2:03:39 Amanal Petros (GER) 2:04:03 Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:04:23 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 2:04:52 Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) 2:07:05 Philip Sesemann (GBR) 2:07:10 Adam Lipschitz (RSA) 2:08:54 Patrick Dever (GBR) 2:08:58 Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) debut

Sabastian Sawe and Jacob Kiplimo will renew their rivalry at the TCS London Marathon while world record-holder Tigst Assefa will defend her title

Sawe, Kiplimo and Assefa return to London

The medals that the world&rsquo;s best relay runners will compete for at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have been unveiled, with 10 days to go to the global event on 2-3 May.
The medal reveal marks a powerful moment in Botswana&rsquo;s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The initiative &ndash; by Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) in partnership with the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 local organising committee &ndash; is supported by a P10 million sponsorship, underscoring the country&rsquo;s commitment to sport, national pride, and diamond beneficiation.
In honour of Botswana&rsquo;s 60 years of independence, the medals feature natural diamonds sourced from Botswana, symbolising the nation&rsquo;s enduring journey, resilience and excellence.
As part of the initiative, ODC partnered with Ankit Gems Botswana and SRK Export to polish 120 of the diamonds locally, ensuring that the medals reflect not only Botswana&rsquo;s natural resources but also its homegrown skills and craftsmanship. This collaboration highlights the critical role of Botswana&rsquo;s diamond beneficiation programme, showcasing Batswana artisans, their expertise, and the country&rsquo;s growing manufacturing capabilities on a global stage.
<div style="padding: 177.78% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="WRE 2026 Gaborone - Medal Reveal Video" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1185506631?h=cb52a830f9&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479%22 frameborder=" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Crafted to tell Botswana&rsquo;s story through form, texture and space, the medals were designed by Thabang Maphanyane of The Dialogue Group as a fusion of national symbolism and forward-looking values.
At its core, the Mohembo Bridge &ndash; entwined with abstract elephant tusks &ndash; is the defining structural motif; an emblem of connection and movement. It speaks to Botswana&rsquo;s role as a gateway for tourism and cross-border trade, while metaphorically mirroring the spirit of athletics itself: nations, cultures and athletes coming together in motion and exchange. The elephant tusks represent the culture of conversation, of preservation of wildlife, and Botswana&rsquo;s fabric of society as a proudly African nation.
Encircling this is a zebra pattern &ndash; a proud reference to Botswana&rsquo;s national animal. Beyond its immediate recognisability, the zebra stripes introduce a sense of rhythm and natural identity, reinforcing themes of unity in diversity &ndash; where individual lines coexist to form a cohesive whole, much like competing nations on a global stage.
Centrally placed, the diamond serves as both a literal and symbolic cornerstone. As a key pillar of Botswana&rsquo;s economy, it reflects the nation&rsquo;s resilience and prosperity, while its brilliance captures the idea of excellence, aspiration and a shining future; qualities embodied by world-class athletes.
An unveiling ceremony for the medals was held at the National Museum and Art Gallery, attended by His Excellency President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, who delivered a keynote address and presided over the official reveal. The occasion celebrated Botswana&rsquo;s global leadership in diamonds, its rich cultural heritage, and its growing stature as a host of world-class sporting events.
ODC&rsquo;s sponsorship package includes: &bull; 120 World Athletics Relays medals, featuring 120 Botswana natural diamonds &bull; National broadcast rights through Botswana Television (BTV) &bull; Women&rsquo;s athlete bib sponsorship
Through this partnership, ODC will ensure that the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 is broadcast live nationwide, enabling millions of Batswana to participate in the excitement and atmosphere of this landmark event.
Tickets are <a href="https://vend.1venda.com/war/er8b9/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">available now</a>.

World Athletics Relays

The medals that the world’s best relay runners will compete for at the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have been unveiled, with 10 days to go to the global event on 2-3 May

Medals unveiled for Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

More than 120 professional athletes across many athletics disciplines and sports have joined the groundbreaking <a href="https://www.socz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sport One, Carbon Zero (SOCZ)</a> fund. SOCZ provides elite athletes with a credible, research-backed means to take climate action while linking it to their performances throughout the season.&nbsp;
Athletes contributing to the initiative include New Zealand&rsquo;s Olympic high jump champion Hamish Kerr, who has <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/socz/hamish" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> to donate $1 for every centimetre he clears during the 2026 season.
Kerr&rsquo;s commitment to climate action has been forged by Auckland&rsquo;s extreme flooding in 2023 and increasingly having to compete in extreme heat.
&ldquo;There are more instances where we're actively having to try and decrease our body temperature to avoid heat stroke and feelings of overheating, which is obviously a performance detriment,&rdquo; Kerr says. &ldquo;Every year it feels like we have to do that more and more, and that's no place we want to be.&rdquo;
Other athletes joining SOCZ include several World Athletics <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/news/champions-better-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Champions for a Better World</a>. Discus thrower Sam Mattis, who recently broke the US record in the event, has <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/socz/sam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> 25 cents for every metre he throws, New Zealand pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/socz/eliza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> $1 for every 200km flown to compete, and Australian racewalker Rhydian Cowley has <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/socz/rhydian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> 10 cents for every kilometre walked on <a href="https://www.strava.com/athletes/196269335" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Strava</a>.
Launched by <a href="https://www.highimpactathletes.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">High Impact Athletes</a> in November 2025, SOCZ is guided by independent researchers at <a href="https://www.givinggreen.earth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Giving Green</a> to identify the highest-leverage systemic climate solutions across organisations and sectors that are most responsible for sport&rsquo;s largest carbon footprint: aviation, energy and infrastructure. Giving Green's research suggests that every $1 donated to SOCZ prevents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), making it approximately 50 times more cost-effective than planting trees and 10 times more cost-effective than high quality offsets.
&ldquo;Nobody is perfect, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean we should stay quiet and do nothing. We should be normalising imperfect action,&rdquo; says McCartney.
Cowley acknowledges the internal conflict many athletes feel, noting that while &ldquo;the lingering worry about being a hypocrite never fully goes away&rdquo;, taking action through SOCZ &ldquo;helps build the confidence to make climate action a more regular talking point&rdquo;.
&ldquo;I spend a lot of time on planes every year. That&rsquo;s just the reality of my job,&rdquo; says Kerr. &ldquo;I&rsquo;d rather acknowledge that and do something with my platform than pretend it&rsquo;s not happening.&rdquo; While Mattis also acknowledges that he travels more than the average person, he believes that his &ldquo;responsibility to do something about climate is greater as well&rdquo;.
When sport is impacted by extreme weather, climate change becomes more tangible for people who might otherwise feel that the problem doesn&rsquo;t affect them or will only matter in the future. As climate impacts such as heatwaves, wildfire smoke and damaged venues increasingly affect sport, SOCZ positions climate action as a matter of survival, not a political issue.
&ldquo;​​People around the world care about sport and connect with athletes in a deeper way than they do with politicians or climate scientists,&rdquo; says Cowley, who adds: &ldquo;athletes have a responsibility to communicate about climate change and climate action, help decarbonise sport, and engage sports fans to take and support climate action themselves.
&ldquo;Nobody is born an Olympic medallist. So, to me it&rsquo;s self-evident that imperfect action is better than doing nothing, and we can improve along the way, just like athletes gradually master their sport on their way to competing and performing at the highest level.&rdquo;
Kerr says that his primary high jump ambition is jumping 2.46m &ndash; a mark that would surpass the long-standing world record of 2.45m set by Javier Sotomayor in 1993, but he aims to scale his positive climate impact alongside taking his athletics performance to new heights.
&ldquo;I think it ties in really nicely with this (SOCZ),&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;because climate change can be quite overwhelming and seems very far away, but when we start breaking it down into action points, it becomes more manageable and about what you can control right here and now.&rdquo;
&ldquo;I think everyone has a responsibility to make their little corner of the world better if they can,&rdquo; says Mattis, while Cowley adds: &ldquo;The faster we can shift to a decarbonised future, the better it will be for athletes and sports fans.&rdquo;
McCartney says: &ldquo;How we spend our money is one of the most important individual actions we can take. I hope to encourage people to contribute to SOCZ and, in doing so, feel that they are doing something of meaning to protect sport and the planet.&rdquo;
Many athletes involved in SOCZ will <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUCyMu-DwZX/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">share updates on their campaigns</a> throughout the season <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUU8XC8gSrO/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">via social media</a>, encouraging fans and fellow athletes to pledge and contribute alongside them.
George Timms for World Athletics

More than 120 professional athletes across many athletics disciplines and sports have joined the groundbreaking Sport One, Carbon Zero (SOCZ) fund

Kerr, Mattis and McCartney among athletics stars joining performance-related climate initiative 

Global&nbsp;champions&nbsp;Gabby Thomas, Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg will be among the headliners when the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold heads to Nairobi for the Kip Keino Classic on Friday (24).
Past editions of the meeting have witnessed several area and national records and with a new track, the introduction of wavelight technology, a star-studded line-up and a shift of the event programme from the afternoon to evening, the seventh edition could be the most exciting and memorable yet.
Thomas, a three-time Olympic and world gold medallist, is ready to light up Nairobi as she takes on the 100m and 200m. The US sprint star is coming off a dominant performance at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where she completed a sprint double. She will aim for the same in Nairobi, where in the 100m she faces Maia McCoy, who returns to defend her crown as part of a strong US contingent also featuring Cambrea Sturgis, as well as Kenya&rsquo;s Millicent Ndoro, hoping to make a statement on home soil.
In the 200m, Thomas again faces Sturgis, as well as France's 2022 world indoor 60m hurdles champion&nbsp;Cyr&eacute;na Samba-Mayela.
Canada&rsquo;s Rodgers is the clear favourite in the women&rsquo;s hammer as she returns to Nairobi to defend her title. The Olympic and two-time world champion opened her season by throwing 81.13m to improve her own North American record in Austin, USA, at the start of this month and the 77.93m she threw to win in Nairobi last year remains the eighth-farthest winning mark of her career so far. Her competition includes USA&rsquo;s two-time world medallist Janee' Kassanavoid.
Rodgers&rsquo; compatriot and fellow Olympic and two-time world champion Katzberg will also want to make a statement as he seeks back-to-back wins. The North American record-holder with 84.70m from the World Championships in Tokyo last year will be joined by Ukraine's Olympic bronze medallist Mykhalio Kokhan and Egypt's Mostafa Elgamel &ndash; two throwers who have also surpassed 81 metres.
Back on the track, home favourite Ferdinand Omanyala returns to the meeting at which he set his African 100m record of 9.77 in 2021. He ran 9.98 to win in Addis Ababa last weekend and the Nyayo crowd will be roaring him on as he tests his speed against international challengers such as Canada&rsquo;s Aaron Brown, USA&rsquo;s Brandon Hicklin and South Africa&rsquo;s Gift Leotlela.
Jamaica&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Bryan Levell, currently ranked fourth in the world for the 200m, is ready to electrify the track in his signature event. He arrives in Nairobi in top form, fresh from running 9.90 for 100m in Kingston, and will face fierce competition from South Africa&rsquo;s Sinesipho Dambile and the USA&rsquo;s Kyree King.
With Zambia&rsquo;s Olympic 400m bronze medallist Muzala Samukonga, South Africa's world relay bronze medallist Zakithi Nene and USA's world indoor silver medallist Brian Faust, the men's 400m promises a thrilling battle.
Kenya&rsquo;s world champion Lilian Odira stars in the women's 800m and will go up against Ethiopia&rsquo;s world indoor silver medallist Nigist Getachew and Habtam Gebeyehu. The men's 800m also has a strong line-up, with six runners who have run under 1:44.00. Kethobolige Haingura of Botswana, who has a PB of 1:43.58, will want to challenge the Kenyan stars including Wyclife Kinyamal, Aaron Cheminingwa and Alex Kipngetich.
Kenya's Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will not race his usual two-lap event but will instead contest the 1500m. He lines up alongside his compatriots Reynold Cheruiyot, the world bronze medallist, 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen and Abel Kipsang, as well as US champion Jonah Koech.
The men's 3000m steeplechase will see brothers Amos Serem and Edmund Serem, both world U20 gold medallists in the past five years, run in the same race as the older sibling continues his comeback following injury. Other notable Kenyans in the event include Olympic and world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot, Leonard Bett and Simon Koech, who will face a contingent of Ethiopian rivals that includes Milkessa Fekadu and world U20 bronze medallist Hailu Ayalew.
All eyes will be on Kenya&rsquo;s rising star Mercy Oketch as she chases her own national record of 50.14 in the women&rsquo;s 400m. Her competition includes USA&rsquo;s Paris Peoples and Ugandan record-holder Leni Shida. World finalists Shiann Salmon of Jamaica and Gianna Woodruff of Panama contest the 400m hurdles against Kemi Adekoya.
The men's javelin includes Kenya&rsquo;s African record-holder Julius Yego, Belgian record-holder Timothy Herman, 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler of Germany and Portuguese record-holder Leandro Ramos. The long jump offers a clash between USA&rsquo;s Tionna Tobias and Burkina Faso&rsquo;s national record-holder Marthe Koala as they both have a personal best of 6.94m. Nigeria's Ruth Usoro will want to build on her season's best of 6.65m.
Justin Lagat for World Athletics

Global champions Gabby Thomas, Camryn Rogers and Ethan Katzberg will be among the headliners when the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold heads to Nairobi for the Kip Keino Classic

Global stars ready to light up Nairobi

The 2025 edition of the Weltklasse Zurich earned platinum level recognition against the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/athletics-better-world/sustainability/athletics-for-a-better-world-standard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard</a>, the tiered evaluation system implemented by World Athletics that measures an event&rsquo;s achievements in sustainable delivery.
The annual Wanda Diamond League fixture, which last year hosted the Diamond League final over two days in two venues, is only the second one-day athletics event to achieve the standard&rsquo;s highest level since its launch in 2024 and just the fourth event overall.
&ldquo;The Weltklasse Zurich's pioneering efforts in this space began nearly two decades ago, when few sports organisations were even talking about sustainability and ways to reduce the environmental impact of their events,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. &ldquo;And in that time, they've created an approach that all sports, not just athletics, can greatly benefit from. Congratulations to the entire Zurich team.&rdquo;
<h2>Trailblazers in sustainability in athletics</h2>
Indeed, Weltklasse Zurich organisers have been measuring their event&rsquo;s carbon emissions since 2008 and staged their first carbon neutral event the following year. Using those editions as their initial baseline measurement, the meeting&rsquo;s sustainability team, led by co-meeting director Christoph Joho, have continued to find ways to reduce the event&rsquo;s environmental impact and expand its social benefits over the ensuing 17 years.
Those experiences provided key insights into the development and eventual implementation of the ABW Standard. Underscoring their efforts, in 2022 Zurich hosted a team of researchers from the Sant&rsquo;Anna School of Advanced Studies who audited the event&rsquo;s sustainability initiatives and actions for GAMES, an EU Commission-funded project that explored how sports can adopt more practices to mitigate their impact on climate change. They also hosted a roundtable discussion ahead of the event, the first of its kind at a Diamond League event, to discuss how athletics events can become more sustainable.
<h2>Powered by renewables</h2>
In 2025, strong initiatives and progress were documented across the ABW Standard&rsquo;s six pillars, including energy management, procurement, and athlete, partner and city engagement.
During the Welktklasse, Letzigrund Stadium is 100% powered by renewable energy, mainly hydro, sourced in Switzerland through a tariff scheme with a local energy provider.
Through a partnership with the Zurich Transport Network (ZVV), a public transport ticket to the stadium is included in the price of the admission ticket. Nearly 70% of spectators took advantage of that with another six percent either walking or bicycling.
All of the event's 364 tonnes of CO2e emissions will be offset, about half through funding for a sustainable forest management project in Switzerland and half through a joint Wanda Diamond League project. Both projects are certified.
<h2>Local sourcing</h2>
Through its strong procurement policy, local sourcing was another strength. More than 85% of the event&rsquo;s suppliers were located within 100km of Zurich. Through a long-standing partnership with Migros, the majority of the food consumed at the meeting was sourced from the region and organically produced. A variety of vegetarian and vegan options were available in the athlete dining areas, at the city centre event on the first day and throughout the stadium on the second. Additionally, the Migros distribution centre is just two kilometres from the stadium, keeping the transport distances to a minimum.
Five of the event&rsquo;s official hotels have publicly facing sustainability commitments and three have certifications via the international GreenKey sustainability standard.
Water stations were installed at those hotels and the stadium in a continuing push to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles at the event. All volunteers received a reusable water bottle as part of their kit.
Another effort to minimise the use of single-use plastic was the introduction of compostable wooden cups at the Sechsel&auml;utenplatz venue, which were recycled in separate collection bins.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69e78826990f7a6029b49be7.jpg" alt="Rubbish collection at Weltklasse Zurich" />
<div>
Rubbish collection at Weltklasse Zurich
</div>
</div>
<h2>Athlete engagement to inspire</h2>
Athlete engagement was particularly strong, forming a strong foundation for the event's social impact.
National and international stars including Mujinga Kambundji, Dominic Lobalu, Femke Bol and Bayanda Walaza led youth training sessions for 500 lucky young athletes who were selected from a pool of 3000 applicants, an experience dubbed as &lsquo;Switzerland's most popular training session&rsquo;.
National stars Audrey Werro, Simon Ehammer, Ditaji Kambundji and Jason Joseph also made themselves available at many of the UBS Kids Cup events, which is, with 160,000 participants annually, Switzerland's largest youth development project. Its final is staged during the Weltklasse.
The meeting also invests CHF 500,000 annually in LC Zurich, the local athletics club, which enables around 300 athletes to train regularly and benefit from professional facilities, contributing to and ensuring long-term athletics development in the region.
<h2>About the Athletics for a Better World Standard</h2>
In January 2024, sustainability reporting through the Athletics for a Better World Standard became a requirement for most global elite competitions managed or awarded by World Athletics. In total, 104 events completed sustainability reporting for their 2024 editions and more than 120 have either started or completed their ABW Standard reporting for 2025. When fully adopted, the ABW Standard will be the largest sustainability evaluation system in the sport industry.
The Weltklasse is the fifth event to earn platinum recognition against the ABW Standard. The Oslo Bislett Games reached the top tier in 2024 and again in 2025. The World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 and World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 also achieved platinum.
&nbsp;

The 2025 edition of the Weltklasse Zurich earned platinum level recognition against the Athletics for a Better World (ABW) Standard

Weltklasse Zurich earns platinum recognition for sustainable delivery

World Athletics has launched the Kids&rsquo; Athletics app to make programme delivery and planning easier, faster and more accessible.
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is a free programme designed to get children and young people moving. Created in 2002 and comprehensively updated since then, it uses the power of athletics to inspire young people &ndash; wherever they are &ndash; to be more active, develop their skills and confidence, and connect with the sport for life.
The Kids&rsquo; Athletics app takes the programme to another level. Free to download on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.worldathletics.kidsathletics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Android</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id6756413635" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple</a>, it offers easy access to Kids&rsquo; Athletics activities, videos and session plans &ndash; all available offline for easy use out on the field of play.
The app is designed primarily for coaches and teachers &ndash; simplifying programme delivery and removing access barriers. Available in six languages &ndash; English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian &ndash; on iOS and Android, it has been created to support fun, safe and positive experiences for children in athletics worldwide.
The app&rsquo;s session plan builder helps coaches and teachers to plan fun and engaging sessions specific to the needs of their participant groups or classes, while participation and usage insights will give World Athletics a better understanding of the programme's reach and effectiveness, allowing for data-driven improvements tailored to community needs.
The app has been developed with scalability in mind. Future updates will support campaigns such as Kids&rsquo; Athletics Day and expand the app&rsquo;s reach to new audiences.
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is for everyone and through a range of resources it supports a community of practitioners &ndash; including coaches, teachers, volunteers and parents &ndash; and participants aged between four and 14.
The programme has so far been implemented by more than 150 Member Federations, reaching an estimated annual reach of more than one million children globally.
World Athletics

World Athletics has launched the Kids’ Athletics app to make programme delivery and planning easier, faster and more accessible

World Athletics launches Kids’ Athletics app

The entry lists for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have been published, confirming a strong global line-up for the eighth edition of the event, set to take place in the capital of Botswana on 2-3 May.
<a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69e73a8a53695418e51f02d3.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entries by event and federation</a> <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/69e73a9e53695418e51f02d6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Entries by federation and event</a>
A total of 723 athletes from 40 nations are entered, with teams competing not only for relay honours but also for qualification places at the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 and this year&rsquo;s World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
All six winning teams from the 2025 World Relays are set to defend their titles, while the fields also include four of the five victorious nations from the 2025 World Championships and three gold-medal-winning teams from the 2024 Olympic Games.
Host nation Botswana will be aiming to make a strong impression in front of a home crowd as their squads for the men&rsquo;s relay disciplines are led by the nation&rsquo;s two global champions. Olympic 200m gold medallist Letsile Tebogo is entered for the 4x100m, while world 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi is joined on the 4x400m team by fellow world 4x400m champions Bayapo Ndori and Leungo Scotch.
Relays powerhouse USA &ndash; winner of numerous world and Olympic titles across multiple relay disciplines &ndash; has named a formidable squad. Ronnie Baker and Courtney Lindsey, part of the triumphant men&rsquo;s 4x100m team at last year&rsquo;s World Championships, are among the standout names.
Jamaica, another sprints superpower, also has a powerful line-up. World 100m champion Oblique Seville is listed for the men&rsquo;s 4x100m, while multiple Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah and two-time world champion Shericka Jackson are entered for the women&rsquo;s event. In the mixed 4x100m, world and Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson is joined by Tia and Tina Clayton, while 2023 world champion Antonio Watson is named for the men&rsquo;s 4x400m.
Canada has entered the four men who claimed 2024 Olympic gold and 2025 world silver in the 4x100m: Andre De Grasse, Jerome Blake, Brendon Rodney and Aaron Brown.
South Africa will be keen to match their success from last year&rsquo;s World Relays. All four men from their triumphant 4x400m quartet are named for this year&rsquo;s edition, while Akani Simbine, who anchored them to glory in the men&rsquo;s 4x100m, also returns.
Spain, another one of the success stories from 2025, has also fielded a strong team for Gaborone. Three of the four women from their victorious 4x400m team will be in action, alongside three of the four athletes who finished runner-up in the women&rsquo;s 4x100m.
World indoor 60m champion Zaynab Dosso features on the Italian women&rsquo;s 4x100m team. Meanwhile Germany has entered several of the women who have contributed to their world and Olympic bronze medals in the 4x100m.
Other experienced relay standouts include Lieke Klaver on the Dutch women&rsquo;s 4x400m team, 2024 world indoor 400m champion Alexander Doom on Belgium&rsquo;s mixed 4x400m squad, and Polish duo Natalia Bukowiecka and Justyna Swiety-Ersetic, both key members of their nation&rsquo;s 4x400m teams.
Event-by-event previews will be published on the World Athletics website during the week of the competition.
World Athletics

The entry lists for the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 have been published, confirming a strong global line-up for the eighth edition of the event

Entry lists published for Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26

John Korir successfully defended his title at the Boston Marathon with a course record of 2:01:52 while fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi also retained her crown at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Monday (20).
Heartbreak Hill proved decisive in both races. It&rsquo;s where Korir surged clear of mid-race leader Milkesa Mengesha and Lokedi broke away from the main pack alongside three compatriots before sealing victory in the closing stages in 2:18:51.
It&rsquo;s the first time since 1996 that both winners retained their titles. With 13 men finishing inside 2:06 and 10 women finishing inside 2:23, it&rsquo;s also one of the deepest Boston Marathons in history. As it&rsquo;s a point-to-point course, however, times are not eligible for PB or record purposes.
A large lead pack in the men&rsquo;s race, initially driven by USA&rsquo;s Alex Maier, went through 10km in 29:02, with the likes of Korir, world champion Alphonce Simbu, 2021 Boston winner Benson Kipruto, Hendrik Pfeiffer, Ryan Ford and Alex Masai all content to sit in.
Lemi Berhanu, Boston winner in 2016, made the first significant solo move shortly after 20km, reaching halfway in 1:01:43 before Korir moved across to join him. Mengesha, the 2024 Berlin Marathon champion, tracked the move and soon positioned himself at the front.
By 25km, Mengesha had edged ahead in 1:13:02, gradually stretching the field. A chase group formed behind him, featuring Korir, Berhanu, Simbu, Zouhair Talbi and Tebello Ramakongoana, and by 30km his advantage had grown to 12 seconds.
The decisive move came as the leaders approached Heartbreak Hill. Korir surged to the front before mile 20, overturning Mengesha&rsquo;s lead and quickly opening daylight. By the top of the climb, he had established a clear gap, with Kipruto and Simbu emerging as his closest challengers while Mengesha faded out of contention.
Korir continued to press over the closing miles, extending his lead to 26 seconds by 35km and 43 seconds by 40km, maintaining a relentless pace that brought him home in a course record of 2:01:52.
Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium places played out between Kipruto and Simbu. As was the case at the World Championships last year, Tanzania&rsquo;s Simbu proved the strongest in a kick finish, taking the runner-up spot in 2:02:47. Kipruto was third in 2:02:50 as all three podium placers finished inside the previous course record of 2:03:02, set back in 2011.
"I knew I would defend my title, but I didn't know I would run that fast," said Korir, whose official PB of 2:02:24 was set when winning in Valencia in December. "For many years, my mind was set on the course record and I thank God that I have achieved it now."
Korir has now won the past four marathons that he has completed, having notched up victories in Chicago in 2024, Boston and Valencia in 2025 and Boston again in 2026.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69e688e1f04fa851051a4b74.jpg" alt="Sharon Lokedi wins the Boston Marathon" />
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Sharon Lokedi wins the Boston Marathon (&copy; Getty Images)
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In contrast to the men&rsquo;s race, the women&rsquo;s contest developed more gradually, with USA&rsquo;s Kodi Kleven briefly pushing the early pace alongside Dakotah Popehn just ahead of a large lead group.
The field passed 10km in 33:31 and 15km in 50:29, with the main contenders &ndash; including Lokedi, 2017 world cross-country champion Irine Cheptai, Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper &ndash; sitting comfortably within a sizeable pack.
Halfway was reached in 1:11:02, just outside 2:22:03 pace, with several US athletes still prominent at the front but the key contenders still closely grouped and biding their time.
Annie Frisbie led at 25km in 1:24:19, just a few strides clear, but the race began to take shape over the Newton Hills. By 21 miles, the lead group had been reduced to a select trio of Lokedi, Cheptai and Chemnung as the earlier leaders dropped away.
Shortly before the two-hour mark, Lokedi made her decisive move. Breaking clear of her compatriots, she established a gap that continued to grow over the closing stages, her strength over the latter part of the course once again proving decisive.
She crossed the line in 2:18:51, winning by 44 seconds from Chemnung (2:19:35). Ngugi-Cooper was third in 2:20:07 ahead of Mercy Chelangat, who completed a Kenyan sweep of the top four places in 2:20:30.
"I just had to be patient," said Lokedi after recording the second-fastest winning time in the race's history after her own mark of 2:17:22 set last year. "After I broke, I was like &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know what I&rsquo;m going to do, but I&rsquo;m just going to follow the car'."
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:18:51 2 Loice Chemnung (KEN) 2:19:35 3 Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:20:07 4 Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:20:30 5 Jess McClain (USA) 2:20:49 6 Irine Cheptai (KEN) 2:20:54 7 Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:21:52 8 Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:22:00 9 Emily Sisson (USA) 2:22:39 10 Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:22:53 11 Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:23:58 12 Dakotah Popehn (USA) 2:24:04 13 Elena Hayday (USA) 2:24:45 14 Kodi Kleven (USA) 2:24:48 15 Amanda Vestri (USA) 2:24:49 16 Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:25:06
Men 1 John Korir (KEN) 2:01:52 2 Alphonce Simbu (TAN) 2:02:47 3 Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:50 4 Hailemariam Kiros (ETH) 2:03:42 5 Zouhair Talbi (USA) 2:03:45 6 Tebello Ramakongoana (LES) 2:04:18 7 Charles Hicks (USA) 2:04:35 8 Richard Ringer (GER) 2:04:47 9 Alex Masai (KEN) 2:05:32 10 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:05:35 11 Clayton Young (USA) 2:05:41 12 Ryan Ford (USA) 2:05:46 13 Joe Klecker (USA) 2:05:56 14 Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:06:04 15 Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:06:06 16 Nicholas Kipkorir (KEN) 2:06:07

John Korir successfully defended his title at the Boston Marathon with a course record of 2:01:52 while fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi also retained her crown

Korir smashes course record at Boston Marathon

By the time Rosa Mota lined up for the Boston Marathon 1990, the diminutive Portuguese runner was already assured of a place among the giants of the women&rsquo;s marathon.
Winner of the first major championship marathon for women, at the European Championships in Athens in 1982, the 1.57m (5ft 2in) Mota became the first woman to secure world and Olympic marathon titles when she followed her devastating triumph at the 1987 World Championships in Rome, where she finished a whopping seven minutes and 21 seconds clear of the field, with victory at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
For all of their trailblazing deeds in lowering the world best time for the women&rsquo;s marathon, Grete Waitz, Joan Benoit and Ingrid Kristiansen never managed to accomplish that golden global double. Indeed, the feat went unmatched until Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya followed her Olympic triumph in 2021 with victory at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.
Likewise, none of the hallowed trio of the women&rsquo;s marathon &ndash; Waitz, the first world champion; Benoit, the first Olympic champion; or Kristiansen, whose 2:21:06 in London in 1985 stood as the world best for 13 years &ndash; managed to achieve a hat-trick of victories at the Boston Marathon.
In what the Boston Marathon aptly refers to as its &lsquo;pioneer era&rsquo;, before women were officially allowed to compete, Roberta &lsquo;Bobbi&rsquo; Gibb (1966, 1967 and 1968) and Sara Mae Berman (1969, 1970 and 1971) were both unofficial first-placed female finishers on three occasions.
In 1990, however, Mota became the first to achieve a trio of victories in the &lsquo;women&rsquo;s open era&rsquo; of the world&rsquo;s oldest annual marathon. To mark this momentous feat, Mota generously donated a memento from each of her Boston successes to the <a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Museum of World Athletics</a>: her winner&rsquo;s medal from 1987, her shoes from 1988, and her singlet and bib number from 1990.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69e628d5ff03f00197f9a396.jpg" alt="Rosa Mota's medal, shoes, singlet &amp; bib from past Boston Marathons" />
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Rosa Mota's medal, shoes, singlet &amp; bib from past Boston Marathons
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In 1987 Mota motored to a comfortable victory, finishing 40th overall in 2:25:21, four minutes and 29 seconds clear of Belgium&rsquo;s Agnes Pardaens. &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t that hard,&rdquo; she confessed. It was even easier 12 months later. Mota cruised home in 2:24:30, crossing the Copley Square finish line with 4:56 in hand of her closest pursuer, Finland&rsquo;s Tuija Jousimaa.
It was a somewhat closer call in 1990. Weary from perpetual battles with the Portuguese federation over her racing schedule and her coaching situation, Mota was also wary of the threat posed by Uta Pippig in the German&rsquo;s first marathon since escaping from the East to the West.
She need not have worried. Haring off at 5:22-mile pace, she had victory effectively in the bag before hitting Heartbreak Hill at 20 miles. &ldquo;No one is close,&rdquo; Mota&rsquo;s partner and coach Jose Pedrosa assured her. &ldquo;Enjoy! Don&rsquo;t kill yourself.&rdquo; She crossed the line two minutes and 39 seconds clear of Pippig in 2:25:24.
Benoit and Kristiansen both notched a brace of Boston victories. Benoit enjoyed a breakthrough win in a course record 2:35:15 in 1979, sporting a Boston Red Sox cap, and the US runner also prevailed in 1983, on that occasion posting a world best of 2:22:43.
Kristiansen triumphed in 1986 and 1989. Waitz, her celebrated Norwegian compatriot, won nine times in New York but was beaten by the rolling hills in her one appearance in Boston, dropping out at 24 miles in 1982, requiring hospital treatment for damage to her quad muscles.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69065f7c361ffa7d09b5119d.jpg" alt="Joan Benoit Samuelson, Rosa Mota and Jon Ridgeon" />
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Joan Benoit Samuelson, Rosa Mota and Jon Ridgeon (&copy; World Athletics Heritage <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Errol Anderson)
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Pippig proceeded to become the first woman to win Boston in three consecutive years (1994, 1995 and 1996) &ndash; a feat subsequently matched by Fatuma Roba (1997, 1998 and 1999) before another Kenyan, Catherine Ndereba, claimed a women&rsquo;s record tally of four victories with back-to-back triumphs in 2000-2001 and 2004-2005.
As for the oft-overlooked Mota, she won twice in Chicago (1983 and 1984) and in London in 1991, a year after securing the European Championship marathon title for a third time.
And none of it would have happened had Pedrosa not persuaded &ldquo;the sparrow-like Edith Piaf of the marathon&rdquo;, as Adrianne Blue memorably described her in the book Faster, Higher, Stronger, to try the 26.2 miles distance just three days after finishing 12th on the track in the 3000m final at the 1982 European Championships in Athens.
Like the celebrated French chanteuse, Mota had immediate regrets when Pedrosa drove her round the undulating Marathon to Athens course. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s too far and too hilly. I might die like Pheidippides.&rdquo;
Happily, Mota did not suffer the same fate as the messenger who, legend has it, dropped dead after running to Athens with news of a Greek victory in the Battle of Marathon in 490BC. In sweltering heat and humidity, she ran a smart race on the route that was used for the inaugural Olympic marathon in 1896, holding back in the opening stages before working her way through to the front with 10km remaining.
Mota finished 25 seconds clear in 2:36:04, with Italy&rsquo;s Laura Fogli second and Kristiansen, the pre-race favourite, third. It was to be the only championship marathon medal in the Norwegian&rsquo;s otherwise stellar career at the 26.2-mile distance.
For Mota, the diminutive Portuguese giant of major championship racing on the roads, it was the start of a marathon gold rush.
Simon Turnbull for World Athletics Heritage
<div><a href="https://tinyurl.com/visitMOWA" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6885f79e982e117f1338cb26.jpg" alt="MOWA banner" /></a></div>

By the time Rosa Mota lined up for the Boston Marathon 1990, the diminutive Portuguese runner was already assured of a place among the giants of the women’s marathon

Marathon great Mota's three Boston victories that set the standard

Valerie Adams is a shot put superstar, but it&rsquo;s not only in the throwing circle that she has made her mark on the sport.
New Zealand&rsquo;s two-time Olympic and eight-time world gold medallist became Chair of the World Athletics Athletes' Commission in 2023 after serving as Deputy Chair since 2019 &ndash; the year she and Renaud Lavillenie became the first active athletes to join the World Athletics Council as full voting members.
At the recent World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26, where she was the World Athletics ambassador, Adams reflected on her journey from athlete to Council member and reinforced the importance of mentoring women and young girls in athletics, to close the gender gap. 
<h2>From athlete to administrator</h2>
 You had an extraordinary career as an athlete, winning multiple global titles. What motivated you to move into leadership and become involved with the World Athletics Athletes&rsquo; Commission and Council?
&ldquo;I come from a very small country, from a region that athletics is not very big in. As I started my career, I was very reluctant and shy. Over the years, as I got more successful, I found my voice and I saw the gaps. I saw things happening in Europe, for example, that weren&rsquo;t happening in Oceania. So, then &ndash; how do you make change? How do you break the cycle or break the bias, so to speak?&nbsp;
&ldquo;As I continued my career, I had an opportunity to create my brand. Through that journey, I saw there was an opportunity to help fellow athletes from my area navigate the system. So, I joined the Athletes&rsquo; Commission and then became Chair. I had this real passion and desire to help the athletes and make the organisation continue to realise that this is an ongoing situation, realise that athletics is a global sport. There is a lot of work to be done in this space and I enjoy being here, being the voice, connecting with my fellow athletes and being a part of this journey. Maybe I found my calling.&rdquo; 
How did your experiences as an elite athlete shape the way you approach decision-making and representation at the governance level of the sport?
&ldquo;They gave me exposure to people and different environments. I had the opportunity to speak to people and gain allies. It takes other people to give you confidence &ndash; that they have confidence in you to bring something to the table.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Also, my experience in being a competitor &ndash; working hard, being resilient, being uncomfortable, losing &ndash; that has shaped the way I am now. Being in this role now, I understand why decisions are made, because as athletes we can be very one-minded &ndash; we're competing, and all we think about is competing and training. I now better understand how the sport is run and how the organisation works. So, now it's my job to get the athlete buy-in and share with them a bit more about what goes on.&rdquo; 
Was there a particular moment in your career when you realised you wanted to contribute to athletics beyond competition?
&ldquo;Yes &ndash; when I became Athletes&rsquo; Commission Chair. You&rsquo;ve got to remember, it was the first time we had voting seats on the World Athletics Council and it was intimidating, I'm not going to lie. It was a very new space for us, but the President (World Athletics President Sebastian Coe) had faith in us; he wanted to empower us and be part of the conversation. It was the right thing to do.
&ldquo;Now, this is my third term overall and my second term being Chair. It has been the most empowering and fantastic experience I've ever had. My experience continues to grow. I&rsquo;m here to learn.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/32fceb17-8d5c-409a-a112-6f3d6aa2f61a.jpg" alt="Valerie Adams celebrates her shot put win at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot" />
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Valerie Adams celebrates her shot put win at the 2014 World Indoor Championships in Sopot (&copy; Getty Images)
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<h2>Representation and leadership</h2>
 As someone who has transitioned from athlete to Council member, what do you believe athletes bring to leadership roles that is essential for the future of the sport?
&ldquo;We (athletes) are the most important stakeholder. Without athletes, there's no Council, no organisation. There's nothing. It's completely different now in that we can bring the athlete's view and we can say they don't agree with this, or they do agree with it, or we need more consultation. We are more involved now that we have ever been.&rdquo; 
Why is it important for women to have a strong voice in decision-making spaces within athletics?
&ldquo;World Athletics set a goal to have 50:50 representation on its Council by 2027. We reached that in 2023, which is absolutely great. The most important thing is for women to be given opportunities, and it's about creating allies who have vision &ndash; how do you mentor or create an environment where women can thrive? It's a difficult world out there, it's a man's world we live in, but that's changing, slowly.
&ldquo;I'm a mother, I have a daughter, and this has become more and more important to me because everybody has a voice. Women out there are powerful, they have got a lot to contribute, and therefore they should be given an opportunity and an open door &ndash; not be stopped at the door because of their sex.&rdquo; 
<h2>Mentorship and closing the gender gap</h2>
 Mentorship is an important theme in the push for greater gender equality in sport. Why do you believe mentoring women and young girls in athletics is so important right now?
&ldquo;Mentorship is important, because if you can see someone in your likeness &ndash; same skin colour, same area, same country &ndash; it makes it seem more possible: &lsquo;If you can do it, I can do it.&rsquo; There&rsquo;s importance in sharing your knowledge, your journey. It's great to see someone leading the way and having the next generation come through. One on one becomes two on two and then three on three, and before you know it, we've got a whole lot of athletes and women coming through in leadership roles.
&ldquo;Now, World Athletics has started a <a href="https://worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/international-womens-day-2026-mentoring-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaign for people to sign a pledge, to mentor women and girls across all areas of the sport</a>. You can't pay for time; it's invaluable. For example, I had the chance to go on the High Performance Sport New Zealand board &ndash; I was asked a couple of times and I doubted my abilities, because I didn't have paperwork like they did. Everybody on there was 20 to 50 years older than me, and I was thinking: &lsquo;what have I got to give?&rsquo; It wasn't until someone quite high up &ndash; a female, very strong, very powerful &ndash; said you me: &lsquo;You can do it, you&rsquo;ve got so much to contribute.&rsquo; I undersold myself because I didn't have the piece of paper, but what I soon realised is that if you want to make a difference, you&rsquo;ve got to be at the table, not serving coffee to people at the table. Nobody at that table had my experience as an athlete, navigating the system, and as a Polynesian woman, navigating a system that is actually quite difficult to navigate.&nbsp;
&ldquo;My job now is to help &ndash; how do we make that pathway a bit easier? I had an ally who believed in me more than I did. Through that, I've been empowered to do the same for others and mentor others along the way.&rdquo; 
How did the guidance of mentors or role models shape your path?
&ldquo;My biggest role model was my mum. I lost my mum when I was 15. She was 39. She didn&rsquo;t see my medals, she didn't see what I do now, or anything like that. She was such a strong woman who sacrificed so much to give her family an opportunity to find a better life. I am 41 now, so me turning 40 and her not making it to 40 &ndash; it was a very difficult time for me.
&ldquo;I have a lot of strong women who I look up to. Beyond New Zealand and my mother, there are strong women in Polynesia who are doing amazing things &ndash; pushing boundaries, questioning people, challenging powerful men.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I continue to challenge uncomfortable spaces. I have no agenda. It doesn't bother me if they come at me or say &lsquo;no&rsquo;, what bothers me is the impact it might have on the athletes and especially on our young girls coming through. Because, for them, it's a lot harder to find a voice, because of the consequences. So, hence why Valerie spreads her wings, stands up really straight, and speaks with confidence when she can. So, the other women see me do that and think: &lsquo;I can do that, too.&rsquo;&rdquo; 
What advice would you give to young female athletes who hope not only to succeed in sport but also to take on leadership roles in the future?
&ldquo;Be there for the right reasons. The journey's not going to be smooth sailing, but the passion to make a difference &ndash; for young women, for young men, for the sport, for the organisation &ndash; plays a big part in your journey. If you're there with an open heart and an open mind, your journey is going to be fun, but challenging.
&ldquo;If you are passionate about coming into this space, please, find that mentor, find strong women around you &ndash; within your community, your organisation, your area association. Someone that you can relate to, someone that you can trust and share with.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/69e4e878c668f0c30ca2ab7e.jpg" alt="Valerie Adams during the Gender Leadership Conference in Tokyo" />
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Valerie Adams during the Gender Leadership Conference in Tokyo (&copy; World Athletics <img style="width: 16px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline;" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" alt="photographer icon" /> Alisha Lovrich)
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<h2>Legacy and impact</h2>
 What changes would you most like to see in athletics over the next decade when it comes to opportunities and leadership for women?
&ldquo;One of the changes that I would love to see within athletics is having more female coaches. And obviously, within leadership &ndash; we need to see more women leaders. There are gaps for them &ndash; we have an opportunity to create change. It's not going to happen overnight, but it's happening.&rdquo; 
If you could leave one lasting impact on the sport through your role with the Athletes&rsquo; Commission and World Athletics Council, what would you like that legacy to be?
&ldquo;At the end of the day, we've got to remember we're all people. And if I can empower, encourage, inspire the next Valerie Adams to come through the ranks as an athlete, as a leader, within their community, within the organisation, within the sport, within their areas, then I've done my job. There are so many Valerie Adams&rsquo; out there. They just need to be given the opportunity, help and support.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Now I'm on this side of the fence. I'm the one giving the support and I openly do it. I'm more than happy to share my knowledge and share my learnings, because there's always room for improvement. I've been through it all, but it's all about learning &ndash; it's the constructive criticism from people that I respect, that only want me to do better, for me and for what I'm working on. I always want to give my best.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There are going to be so many more Valerie Adams&rsquo; coming through and I'm hoping that they do so with an open heart and an open mind.&rdquo; 
Launched in March, the World Athletics pledge initiative forms part of the organisation&rsquo;s contribution to the International Women&rsquo;s Day 2026 global campaign, #GiveToGain, which calls on individuals and organisations to give their time, resources and support to&nbsp;help forge gender equality through abundant giving. By encouraging stakeholders to pledge mentoring hours, World Athletics is turning the #GiveToGain message into practical action across the sport. Learn more on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/international-womens-day-2026-mentoring-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women in Athletics website</a>.
&nbsp;

Valerie Adams is a shot put superstar, but it’s not only in the throwing circle that she has made her mark on the sport.

Valerie Adams and mentorship – from throwing circle to boardroom and beyond

Ruth Gitonga Mwihaki and Michael Selelo Saoli achieved a Kenyan double at the S&atilde;o Br&aacute;s Cross, the first&nbsp;WMRA Mountain Running World Cup event of the year, in&nbsp;Castro Daire, Portugal, on Sunday (19).
The&nbsp;S&atilde;o Br&aacute;s Cross made an immediate impression on its World Cup debut. Classified as a classic up &amp; down race, the 10.9km route with 628 metres of ascent&nbsp;was a fitting season opener for the World Cup.
In the women&rsquo;s race, Great Britain&rsquo;s defending World Cup champion&nbsp;Scout Adkin headed a breakaway group,&nbsp;closely followed by one of the breakout stars of last year&rsquo;s World Cup,&nbsp;N&eacute;lie Cl&eacute;ment&nbsp;of France,&nbsp;plus World Championships classic race runner-up&nbsp;Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;and&nbsp;Elle Twentyman, with&nbsp;Marie Nivet&nbsp;15 seconds behind.
For the men, as expected, it was last year&rsquo;s World Cup third-place finisher Selelo Saoli who set the early pace. He was joined initially by a group of nine, including Th&eacute;odore Klein of France, Great Britain&rsquo;s 2019 World Cup champion Andrew Douglas and Matthew Knowles, the world junior champion in 2019.
The first gaps started opening in the long uphill taking the runners to the summit at 3.5km. Adkin led&nbsp;Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;and Clement was 30 seconds behind them, closely followed by Twentyman, with another gap back to&nbsp;Martina Falchetti&nbsp;and Nivet. The uphill had a similar effect on the men&rsquo;s race.&nbsp;Selelo Saoli&nbsp;broke away from the group to take the lead, with Douglas just 10 seconds behind and closely followed by&nbsp;Oscar Subuh-Symons, Klein and Knowles.
While the long uphill shook things up, it was the downhill section between kilometres four and six that proved decisive. It was here that&nbsp;Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;made her move and passed Adkin, and&nbsp;Selelo Saoli&nbsp;also&nbsp;pulled away from the chasing Douglas.
By the timing point at 7.5km,&nbsp;Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;had a 25-second lead over Adkin, with a 30-second gap back to Clement, who remained in third, then a minute gap back to Twentyman, with Nivet completing the women&rsquo;s top five another minute behind.
At the same point for the men,&nbsp;Selelo Saoli&nbsp;had a 30-second gap back to Douglas and Klein, with a small gap back to Subuh-Symons, with Knowles slightly further back. The men&rsquo;s podium was still within reach for a number of runners and it was all going to come down to the next climb, the superfast downhill and the final lung-busting uphill sprint in town to the finish.
Despite Adkin keeping the pressure on,&nbsp;Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;proved impossible to reel in and she took the women&rsquo;s win in 49:12. Adkin was second in 50:13 and Clement claimed third in 51:20, having increased her gap to Twentyman to almost two minutes.
Selelo Saoli&nbsp;also couldn&rsquo;t be caught and won the men&rsquo;s race in 42:22, with Douglas second in 43:27. Subuh-Symons overtook Klein in the final kilometres to claim third, a major landmark in his mountain running career so far.
The World Cup now heads to China, for a double header in Beijing with an uphill race and a classic up &amp; down race at Yanshou Trail Challenge next weekend.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1&nbsp;Ruth Gitonga Mwihaki&nbsp;(KEN) 49:12 2&nbsp;Scout Adkin&nbsp;(GBR) 50:13 3 N&eacute;lie Cl&eacute;ment (FRA) 51:20 4&nbsp;Elle Twentyman&nbsp;(GBR) 53:07 5&nbsp;Marie Nivet&nbsp;(FRA) 53:20
Men 1&nbsp;Michael Selelo Saoli&nbsp;(KEN) 42:22 2&nbsp;Andrew Douglas&nbsp;(GBR) 43:37 3&nbsp;Oscar Subuh-Symons&nbsp;(GBR) 44:07 4&nbsp;Th&eacute;odore Klein&nbsp;(FRA) 44:39 5 Matthew Knowles (GBR) 45:37

Ruth Gitonga Mwihaki and Michael Selelo Saoli achieved a Kenyan double at the São Brás Cross, the first WMRA Mountain Running World Cup event of the year

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