Thrills and spills as Tokyo action comes to a close

22nd September 2025

The final day at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 was the epitome of the whole nine-day competition, with a championship record, a surprise victor and more winners of multiple titles at the Japan National Stadium.

Sunday (21) marked the global medal-winning start of some athletes’ careers and the end of a chapter for others.

USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden became only the second female sprinter after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to complete the sprint treble – receiving a baton of sorts from the Jamaican sprint superstar who made her World Championships farewell in Tokyo.

After her individual 100m and 200m wins, Jefferson-Wooden formed part of the victorious US women’s 4x100m team that took the title ahead of Jamaica, while the US men’s quartet completed a golden 4x100m double for the nation.

USA also won the women’s 4x400m, while Botswana pipped USA to victory in the men’s event.

Leo Neugebauer won the decathlon after a competition of twists and turns, Daniel Stahl became a three-time discus winner, Nicola Olyslagers soared to another global gold, Cole Hocker rebounded to clinch the 5000m crown and Lilian Odira announced herself on the global stage by securing a shock 800m triumph.

Full day nine round-up

Spectator figures on day nine:

Morning session: 23,575
Evening session: 58,723

New Athletes' Commission members announced

World Athletics is pleased to announce the results of the Athletes' Commission elections, which took place during the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

The six newly elected or re-elected members of the 2025-2029 Athletes’ Commission are:

Andreas Almgren (elected) – 1428 votes
Sweden

Lia Apostolovski (elected) – 1201 votes
Slovenia

Lisanne de Witte (re-elected) – 1566 votes
Netherlands

Thea LaFond (elected) – 1293 votes
Dominica

Anna Ryzhykova (re-elected) – 1244 votes
Ukraine

Gia Trevisan (elected) – 1456 votes
Italy