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5d ago

World Athletics Opens Ultimate Championship in Budapest With $10 Million Prize Pot

The three-night event is a made-for-TV trial of rule changes designed to raise athlete pay and reshape major championships.

Ethan Katzberg, of Canada, makes an attempt in the men's hammer throw final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday, July 27, 2026. Katzberg, the reigning Olympic and world champion, failed to record a mark at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship on Friday and was eliminated after two rounds. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
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Overview

  • Opening night on Friday saw Jakob Ingebrigtsen win the men’s 5,000m in 12:59.24 as part of a comeback from Achilles surgery and collect the $150,000 winner’s prize.
  • World Athletics is testing several format changes including no medals, direct semifinals and finals instead of heats, a live lane draft for the 200m, four-attempt throws, and jump-off tiebreaks for vertical events.
  • The invite-only meet features 381 athletes from 65 federations chosen by Olympic gold, world titles, Diamond League wins and World Rankings, with no country quotas and guaranteed payouts for all competitors.
  • Several traditional events such as discus, shot put, the 3,000m steeplechase and the 10,000m were omitted, prompting criticism from athletes like Matthew Denny who say the selection narrows opportunity.
  • The three-day festival continues through Sunday with marquee races including the men’s 1,500m showdown to follow and World Athletics positioning the event as a testing ground for rules it may adopt at future championships.