by Stuart Weir
This is Stuart Weir, senior writer for RunBlogRun in Europe. Stuart wrote this as his final column on the Good, Bad, Ugly, and Unusual in Budapest 2023. This is one of Stuart’s most popular columns for each major event.
The Good, the bad, and the unusual in Budapest
The Good
A really good event. Everything worked! Up there with the best of my 8 world champs
Crowd: After the empty stadiums in Doha and the poor attendance in Oregon, it was great to see the stadium full with a great atmosphere. There was a deafening atmosphere when a Hungarian was competing.
GB media team: Just the best. The daily schedule of when each athlete was competing, flash quote from every GB athlete, briefing with CEO/Chairman, Performance director. Speaking personally, I made sure that I got to speak to every athlete I needed to.
Dignity: The way Akine Simbine reacted to a false start: “This is all part of the game, part of the rules; there is nothing to do about it now.”
Officials are human: Eva Swoboda missed the 100m final by 2 thousands of a second. But was awarded a place.
Lovely stadium.
10 medals for Team GB
10 more medals for Team GB than for Germany
World Athletics staff: Present, efficient, problem-solvers and such nice people.
Media resources: great free photos, superb and comprehensive flash quotes – thanks, Suzana and team
The bad
115 steps from my seat to the mixed zone – no solution but a challenge to the aging body!
More sad than bad: the moment Rasheed Broadbell’s real chance of a medal ended – see photo.
Budapest, Hungary
August 19-27, 2023, photo by Kevin Morris
Andrew Hudson was injured in a crash between two golf buggies on the way to compete.
Media transport: buses at the wrong time. Would have been better to have none and have a volunteer in a hotel for the first 1 or 2 days to explain how to travel by public transport
The bizarre
Coincidence: Femke Bol and Sifan Hassan fell within meters of the finish within minutes of each other
Prophetic: The GB sprint relay team of Jeremiah, Adam, Jonah, and Eugene. It’s a shame they could not find another Biblical name for the last leg!
Strangest question to an athlete: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce being asked if she expected to be beaten by an athlete in lane 9! (via Euro Radio)
Hilarious: The moment when the mascot jumps out from behind the sofa to scare Anthonique Strachan in the Q room. Watch at https://youtu.be/_RSmml5dzM8
