by Alfonz Juck
NANJING (CHN): The 20th edition of World Indoors will be for first time in China, but for third time in Asia after Maebashi and Doha. It is for third time that European and World Indoors are held in the same year (1987 and 1989 before) but more specific is the fact that his championships were originally planned for 2020. But Covid did not allow it by that time and since then the event was two more times postponed. So here we are in the Cube and next World Indoors already in 2026 in Torun (March 20-22). Nanjing 2025 is also the latest date (21-23) in the history of this championships. Despite all this facts several top names of the sport will be competing. Mondo Duplantis, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Grant Holloway or Yaroslava Mahuchikh just to name a few. In the entries 576 athletes from 127 countries what is at the level of previous championships despite all factors already mentioned. Record numbers are 705 athletes at World Indoors 1997 in Paris (but without technical events direct finals) and 171 countries at World Indoors 2012 in Istanbul. There will be 11 individual title defenders out of 24 individual events. Duplantis, Holloway, Kerr, Lafond and Tentoglou followed their glory in Glasgow by becoming Olympic champions in Paris last year and they will be joined in Nanjing by their fellow Olympic gold medallists Mahuchikh and Ingebrigtsen, who are also among the world record-holders in action. Not invited as in Belgrade and Glasgow, Russian and Belarus athletes, all technical events are held as finals. Qualification was not based on rankings, but current lists. The capacity of the hall is at 2500 level. Mondo track was installed and there’s usual good prize money, too, for places 1-6: $40 000-20 000-10 000-8000-6000-4000, plus a $50,000 bonus for a world record. In Torun 2026 new event will be added, mixed 4×400 m relay.
Event by event short previews
Men
60 m: Not clear favorites like Coleman and Lyles last time. Baker is the most experienced, Kennedy was fast outdoors, Azu won European title. And there is Simbine too.
400 m: Bailey unbeaten in US, Molnar unbeaten in Europe.
800 m: New US top name Hoey but strong Europeans not only new champ Chapple but mainly Crestan with his front running.
1500 m: Jakob will have same rivals like at Europeans with Nader, Gourley, Pihlstrom. What is the shape of Tefera (only one race in Lievin 3k)? No other big names from Africa or US.
3000 m: Straight final and Jakob needs to see Mehary and Aregawi as rivals.
60mH: Holloway against the clock after 82 indoor wins in a row (including 55mH). But maybe not that easy as Szymanski also clocked sub 7.40.
HJ: Woo with only two meets (wins) against WL holder Doroshchuk, but there is also Olympic winner Kerr.
PV: Mondo in his own World, can he produce again a global mark at championships? Karalis based on the season looks for silver, bronze open.
LJ: Furlani won close Apeldoorn battle, Ehammer was better in heptathlon, Gayle in shape, Pinnock first comp of the year and legend Tentoglou was ill. Top field.
TJ: Diaz should manage, can Zango come close or Hess, home force Zhu.
SP: Time for revenge for Fabbri. Piperi and Steen for US. Two European medalists and Weir too. What is the shape of Walsh?
Hep: Apeldoorn top names except of Ehammer there with US duo Williams, Baldwin. Is Skotheim having fuel for another top score?
4×400 m: US always strong, surprise from Hungary? Straight final.
Women
60 m: Interestingly could be an European podium, with top 3 from Apeldoorn (Dosso, Kambundji, Van der Weken).
British Athletics
800 m: Duguma after three wins this winter looks as the main contender. Opposite to 60, this does not look for European on the podium.
1500 m: After super fast race in Torun all eyes on Tsegay. But Welteji won her two races so far. Maclean and Houlihan in the mix too. Hunter-Bell for revenge.
3000 m: Another Ethiopian affair with Hailu and U20 Haylom. Bronze open for Houlihan, Healy, Hull.
60mH: Nugent, Stark, Charlton vs European medalists (Kambundji, Visser, Skrzyszowska).
HJ: Mahuchikh for the title. Olyslagers did not jump yet and Patterson with Topic ready for podium.
PV: Defender Caudery and Eurochamp Moser, then solid group for bronze.
LJ: Kalin the top favorite, what can Charlton sister achieve? Basically wide open.
TJ: Hernandez and if healthy Povea with Peleteiro looking like clear choices. Oly winner LaFond did not jump this year yet.
SP: Title defender Mitton, World champ Jackson and Euro champ Schilder. Home legend Gong.
Pen: Vanninen like Skotheim, still energy for improvement? On the other hand Krizsan and Brooks for first pentathlon of the year.
4×400 m: USA looks clear, Australia for silver.
FLASH-BACK
PORTLAND (USA): In the flash-back for Portland 2016, USA was the best country with 13-6-4 gold, silver and bronze medals ahead of Ethiopia 2-2-1, in total 29 countries got medals. In points also USA 249 ahead of Ethiopia 56 and Great Britain 39, here 53 countries got points. In total 10 world leads, 2 meet records and 7 area indoor records were registered, but no World Indoor record. From title defenders who competed only four defended (7 were not successful). Paul Doyle was the agent with most individual gold medals from his athletes and total number of spectators was 39 283 for all sessions. 487 athletes from 137 countries competed.
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): In the Birmingham flash back to mention 32 countries won medals. Also 48 countries were in points rankings. There was 1 World indoor record in the men´s 4×400 m, 6 Area indoor records, 6 meet records and 14 World leads. Seven athletes successfully defended their titles from Portland. Six agents represented athletes with two individual gold medals. In total 554 athletes from 134 countries.
BELGRADE (SRB): Three World Indoor records highlighted the Serbian edition of the championships after 4 years break due to COVID (Duplantis, Rojas, Holloway). 611 athletes took part from 128 different countries. Average age of participants: 25 years. Average age of medallists and winners was 26 years. more than 20,000 spectators attended across the three days, despite a reduced stadium capacity due to Covid restrictions with Sunday 2nd session 6800 the highest. 72 national records. In medals Ethiopia was better than USA and Belgium, in total 31 countries won medals. In total 56 countries achieved top 8 position. Best agent was Juan Pineda with 3 individual gold medals. Light tower was used for the first time in technical events to show the validity of attempts. In competition performance rankings at the time Belgrade was the best ever World Indoors with 49 348 (since 2000) ahead of Budapest 2004 with 48 839 and third Birmingham 2018 with 48 861.
GLASGOW (GBR): World Indoor records by Femke Bol 49.17 in the 400 m and Devynne Charlton 7.65 over 60 m hurdles highlighted the last edition of World Indoors in Glasgow. Also 13 World leads, in total 5 championships records and 9 area records. Four individual title defenders were successful (Vidts, Tentoglou, Holloway and Duplantis). USA won medals and points, 32 countries got medals and 49 points. Paul J Doyle, Ray Flynn, Marc Corstjens and Henry Rolle were top agents, each representing athletes winning two individual gold medals. Glasgow 2024 scored second best World Indoors total since 2000 with 49 159 points. Only one edition was better, Belgrade 2022 with 49 348. Third is Budapest 2004 with 48 839 ahead of Birmingham 2018 with 48 861. In total 587 athletes from 128 countries competed.
