Vahida Kozic attended the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 as national team head coach and team leader for the Bosnia and Herzegovina federation.
A lecturer and administrator, Kozic has completed the World Athletics Coaches Education and Certification System Level 3 and is a member of the European Athletics Coaches Association. She was a recipient of the European Athletics Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award in 2018.
As part of a series on mentorship and gender leadership, she shared insight into her career in athletics. 
What first inspired you to become involved in athletics?
&ldquo;My journey began with my own participation in sports, especially athletics. I was driven by competing and winning so much, it became an undeniable passion. I competed at a national level in both athletics and football and constantly strived for those intense moments on the field, it's what made me feel alive. But soon I realised that what really fascinated me were the situations that happened around the sport
&ldquo;During my competitive years, I took on supporting roles on the side. I often worked as an assistant, helping with competition and refereeing. It gave me an amazing insight into our sport. This is what really inspired me to stay involved long-term, because I realised that sport does not just bring excitement for a first-place achievement, but it also deeply shapes personalities and teaches core values.
&ldquo;Through different experiences, I understood how much our sport depends on the people working behind the scenes, and how critical every role is. By choosing this path, I was naturally led towards coaching and education in the field of sports science. This is what inspired the rest of my personal education. I completed my PhD in kinesiology at the University of Zagreb and set my life on a secure path which gave me a good academic foundation.
&ldquo;Besides the diplomas, what truly inspired and taught me the most was working directly with athletes, coaches and support people on the field. All of this was what shaped my profession and intensified my love for this sport. Throughout different contributions and developments for Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have found the one path I truly believe I can excel in.&rdquo; 
You wear many hats as a team leader, head coach, lecturer and administrator. How have these different roles shaped your understanding of the sport?
&ldquo;Every one of these roles undeniably offers different perspectives, each vital and complex in their own way. When we look at the bigger picture, often as it is, smaller countries are understaffed. We always have people who work in multiple positions at the same time, to keep the sport alive. This is what athletics requires, whether we like it or not.
&ldquo;When I first started working as a coach, it took me time to understand what focus on an individual meant. There are so many factors that must be considered &ndash; an athlete&rsquo;s overall development, their performance and their wellbeing. All of this is not as pretty or easy as it sounds. Often, it is filled with trial and error, which becomes difficult as the years go by. Young athletes, for example, go through different stages in their early years, and understanding that process as a coach can be difficult.
&ldquo;But of course, we must wear multiple hats, so by going from coach to team leadership or administration, I get a broader, but less personal, perspective. It showed me how a whole system should work. This is what made me a perfectionist obsessed with organisation and overall order.
&ldquo;An unusual path I also had the chance to walk through was as a lecturer. Transferring knowledge in an understandable way can be difficult. It's not easy to be interesting, believe me, but I always try as much as possible to be engaging to my audience.&rdquo; 
How has your leadership style evolved as you have moved between coaching and administration?
&ldquo;Nothing beats experience, and so naturally coaching and administration go hand in hand in that matter. As a coach, observing and listening to my athletes is what made me a good athlete profiler, and when combining that with the sense of responsibility and understanding of the bigger picture, I can say, with confidence, that it made me more assured in decision making.
&ldquo;Combining both worlds has removed the tunnel vision I had before &ndash; both give people the free will to contribute and grow. Even when I don&rsquo;t have all the answers, having a stable support system where people feel valued and essential to the cause makes any problem solvable, which is essentially the ingredient to our success.
&ldquo;I hope in life I will never reach the final stage but will always find a way to better my work style and approach. Administration is what builds my character day by day, but coaching is what gives emotion to my work and sensibility, which I think is what we need in our system.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aecceb1276da700317985d2.jpg" alt="Vahida Kozic speaks during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme" />
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Vahida Kozic speaks during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme (&copy; ICAC / Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF))
What qualities do you believe are most important for effective leadership in athletics today?
&ldquo;Integrity and good communication. You can never go wrong in asking more and demanding answers. Everything is evolving, whether it is something we want or not, and so responsibility must prevail. I always look out for new discoveries and methods, especially with rising technology. But other than these technical aspects every leader must hold, we also need empathy and must lead by example.
&ldquo;No matter how many new athletes and new coaches arise, all of them learn from actions rather than bland words, so we as leaders have to be structured and hold authority in every moment.&rdquo; 
What are some of the barriers that you have encountered as a woman in athletics, and how did you overcome them?
&ldquo;As a woman, I come across cultural stereotypes in specific regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I try not to take any comments personally, but fight them off by working relentlessly and consistently. I have also faced limited resources that made preparation difficult. These things, whether I&rsquo;m a woman or not, will always occur, but I don&rsquo;t let it get to me.
&ldquo;Working independently and professionally, I&rsquo;m always confident I can overcome these challenges. It's important to establish a strong background, so people know you are not one to be messed with. To show people I can be a true leader, I always stick to my plans and my beliefs without letting any comments or opinions get to me.&rdquo; 
You received the European Athletics Women&rsquo;s Leadership Award in 2018. What did that recognition mean to you, and how has it influenced your work since?
&ldquo;Whenever my hard work is recognised, it fills me with confidence and a deep sense of gratefulness. This award in particular is proof that even when coming from a country with minimal resources and support, hard work and relentless trying pays off. Recognition to me is important as a woman, because we try our hardest to just have someone listen to our ideas and to achieve this award truly gives a new meaning to women and leadership.
&ldquo;Throughout the years, the journey has not become any easier, but still I constantly strive against those odds. My work through different roles brings a deep sense of responsibility, and knowing I will come across obstacles no matter what gives me courage to fight back and give the future generations reason to believe in themselves and their work. This award is truly a goal achieved and a new stepping stone in my work overall.&rdquo; 
Why is mentorship so important for women working in athletics?
&ldquo;Mentorship, other than teaching you different methods and different understandings, also brings out comfort in women. Having someone who believes in your abilities and supports you gives confidence.
&ldquo;I was fortunate to have multiple mentors, all who have influenced my career heavily. Guidance is important for women and it is a responsibility that must be carried on. The best way to honour someone's mentoring is to carry that support with you and help others in need.&rdquo; 
Who have been the most influential mentors in your career, and what lessons have stayed with you?
&ldquo;The two individuals that have helped shape my career are my athletics coach and the university mentor I worked with during my PhD. My university mentor was someone who valued discipline overall and who showed me how to think outside the box in order to understand the core of it.
&ldquo;My coach was different. He was a committed person who showed me that even in work, consistency will always beat pure talent. This is what built my mental toughness and showed me immense discomfort I had to fight with. Pushing through failure and setbacks made me committed to the game, even when there was no motivation or happiness, just me and my mind. There I found solace in pushing my limits, because I knew success would follow either way.&rdquo;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aecce94276da700317985cf.jpg" alt="Vahida Kozic during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme" />
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Vahida Kozic during the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme (&copy; ICAC / Korea Association of Athletics Federations (KAAF))
As someone who now mentors others, what qualities do you try to instil in the next generation of women coaches and leaders?
&ldquo;Be curious. Showing interest is the finest quality for a woman interested in coaching and leading. Having an immense drive to ask questions opens up endless opportunities to achieve valuable knowledge. From curiosity it would be fairly easy to gain competence and soon enough confidence, which is what I believe something every woman needs. Coming across high pressure and setbacks, I always want to instil resilience in young women.
&ldquo;But mostly in athletics, success is what you build deep down. We should also develop empathy so that we can see our athletes on a more personal level and further help them see their true potential.&rdquo; 
Where do you see the biggest opportunities to advance gender equity in athletics over the next few years?
&ldquo;To advance gender equity, evaluation of any past strategies is a must, so we can see what current demands should be. In reality, these things are not just numbers on paper. The biggest opportunities lie in transforming initiatives into permanent and stable structures. This requires a foundation of true competence that supports creating transparent pipelines and truly ensures women have equal access to high-performance roles. Elevating these ideas will show a greater picture of women as strong and competent leaders. I see these opportunities in education and proving that careers in sports leadership are possible and within reach.&rdquo; 
You were previously a national coordinator for the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina. What does grassroots development mean to you, and why is it so important?
&ldquo;Grassroots athletics is a foundation for everything we built towards the elite level. While it is known that only a small percentage of the children in the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme will become elite athletes, our primary goal is to implement a positive lifelong relationship between kids and sports.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This programme represents an opportunity. It's an absolute must for the entire athletics system, for kids to be able to engage in physical activity. It serves as a talent pathway, finding future coaches, volunteers and leaders. It really represents the vital foundation for the sport&rsquo;s infrastructure.&rdquo; 
How can federations create clearer pathways for young athletes, coaches and volunteers to stay involved in the sport?
&ldquo;This is a very tricky question. I cannot help but be reminded of the limited resources we have in our federation. But, in my humble opinion, the most important step is to first design a career-changing guide that will help lead athletes and inspire them to be coaches, or be involved in officiating and sport managing.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One of the most helpful ways of establishing this is by active networking. Everybody seems to be on their phones these days, so why not pair retired athletes with years of experience inside the sport so they can be mentored in the most direct way possible, online or in person.
&ldquo;Other than that, another good option is giving people small volunteering roles, like helping during competitions or any events. This can also involve young people to stay connected to the sport.&rdquo; 
As part of the International Course of Athletics Coaching (ICAC) programme, you recently did your World Athletics CECS Level 3 qualification in South Korea. How has the course helped you grow &ndash; not only as a coach, but also as a leader and educator?
&ldquo;When I attended the World Athletics CECS Level 3 course in South Korea, I was honoured, because it was a one-of-a-kind opportunity where I could reflect on my coaching tactics while simultaneously gaining insight into elite-level demands of today's world.
&ldquo;As a coach, this event helped with my confidence and further helped sharpen my skills in planning and managing responsibilities. As a fellow educator, I feel like the vision I have for the future in my career, coaching and leadership is much clearer.&rdquo; 
Why do you think it&rsquo;s important for other coaches, especially women, to take advantage of World Athletics&rsquo; coaching education and eLearning opportunities?
&ldquo;Women in World Athletics programmes constantly upgrade in terms of teaching methods and offer new skills, which is essential for any woman starting out. Having women coaches is a great way of achieving a greater insight into a woman's physiological and emotional struggles and changes. With this, we can better understand our athletes and let them know they can be comfortable and open with us about their needs and health challenges.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Different eLearning opportunities provide perfect solutions which allow a quality education. The more a women's coach is confident in understanding their athletes the better progress the athlete will achieve. Whether it is coaching, administration or technical organisation, eLearning gives you an opportunity to develop on a global level and be a part of a larger system.&rdquo;
Nicole Montello for the World Athletics Media Academy 
World Athletics is calling on Member Federations, Area Associations, coaches, technical officials, administrators, athletes and partners worldwide to commit their time, resources and support to mentor young girls and women in athletics as a commitment to help close the gender gap. 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>.
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Vahida Kozic attended the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26 as national team head coach and team leader for the Bosnia and Herzegovina federation.

Kozic's journey, from athlete and coach to team leader and administrator

The Cross Internacional de It&aacute;lica in Santiponce on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Seville always boasts a quality line-up and the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting on Sunday (8) is no exception, with Likina Amebaw, Rodrigue Kwizera and Berihu Aregawi among the entries.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Amebaw has had a fantastic year, topped by her win at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in September. That came just a few days prior to her world 5km win in Copenhagen. The 28-year-old, who trains under the guidance of Spanish coach Alberto Garc&iacute;a, ended the track season as the world 5000m leader thanks to her PB of 14:18.41 in Rome. She then kicked off her cross-country campaign in style in Amorebieta where she won by more than half a minute ahead of Burundi&rsquo;s Francine Niyomukunzi, an 8:33.27 3000m athlete who will also be in attendance on Sunday.
Yet the toughest opposition for the favourite Amebaw in the 9.5km race might come from a top-10 finisher at January&rsquo;s World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Kenya&rsquo;s Maurine Chebor who is fresh from a commanding win in San Sebasti&aacute;n.
In addition, four of the top five athletes from the U20 race in Tallahassee will also race. Ethiopia&rsquo;s Wosane Asefa was runner-up in Tallahassee and was also the 3000m silver medallist at the World U20 Championships in Oregon, while Uganda&rsquo;s Charity Cherop claimed a bronze medal in Tallahassee before taking 5000m gold and 3000m bronze in Oregon. Kenya&rsquo;s Cynthia Chepkurui was fourth and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Yenenesh Shimket fifth in Tallahassee. Shimket went on to run a world U20 10km best of 30:21 in Brasov. They will all be joined in Santiponce by Birtukan Molla, a 30:50 10km specialist.
Local hopes rest on European U23 cross-country and 5000m champion Mar&iacute;a Forero who placed second in San Sebasti&aacute;n last weekend, five seconds behind Chebor. She again faces France&rsquo;s European 3000m steeplechase record-holder Alice Finot, three weeks on from Forero beating the Spain-based French athlete at the Aranda de Duero cross-country race. There they clocked 30:26 and 30:36 to finish third and fourth, respectively.&nbsp;
The men&rsquo;s event features Ethiopia&rsquo;s three-time world cross-country silver medallist Berihu Aregawi. Having not competed since his cross-country win in Elgoibar in January, Aregawi&rsquo;s form is unknown but the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist should be eager to take revenge from his loss in&nbsp;Santiponce two years ago when he had to settle for third place behind Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Kwizera.
Ndikumwenayo and Kwizera proved to be in excellent shape at the Valencia Half Marathon last month. Kwizera won in a Spanish record of 58:03, while Ndikumwenayo finished second in a massive career best of 58:09. They train together in Castell&oacute;n and each will be aiming for a third victory in It&aacute;lica as Kwizera won in 2021 and 2025 and Ndikumwenayo triumphed in 2022 and 2024. Kenenisa Bekele is so far the only athlete with three victories under his belt from the 2000s.
Last year&rsquo;s podium will gather again as Kenya&rsquo;s runner-up Andrew Alamisi and third-place finisher Denis Kipkoech Kemboi Kipkemoi join the cast. The latter showed fine shape last Sunday in San Sebasti&aacute;n where he secured a sprint victory over Uganda&rsquo;s Samuel Simba Cherop, who ran a 27:26 10km in Brasov last month. He will be joined by his compatriot Dismas Yeko, holder of a 27:24 10km career best set in Lille last April.
It&aacute;lica will also witness the much-awaited senior cross-country debut of Kenya&rsquo;s Frankline Kibet. The 19-year-old opened his year with a convincing world U20 victory in Tallahassee and he also clinched the world U20 5000m title in Oregon.&nbsp;
His fellow Kenyan Charles Kiboino will also be in show, while the Ethiopian contingent features world U20 5000m bronze medallist Demitew Kebede and Wegene Adisu, third in San Sebasti&aacute;n last weekend.
Watch out too for Spain&rsquo;s Aar&oacute;n Las Heras. The 26-year-old made a promising half marathon debut in Valencia with a 1:00:08 performance and will be chasing a top-10 spot on Sunday.
Famous previous winners in Santiponce include Fernando Mamede (1984 and 1985), Paul Kipkoech (1987 and 1988), Paul Tergat (1998 and 1999), Kenenisa Bekele (2003, 2004 and 2007), Leonard Komon (2010 and 2011), Joshua Cheptegei (2018), Jacob Kiplimo (2019), Paula Radcliffe (2001), Linet Masai (2010 and 2012) and Faith Kipyegon (2016).
Weather forecasters predict a mild day with temperatures in the 20-22&deg;C range and a 90% chance of rain by the time of the event.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

The Cross Internacional de Itálica in Santiponce on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Seville always boasts a quality line-up and the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting on Sunday (8) is no exception

Amebaw and Kwizera poised to strike in Seville

With one month to go until the first meeting of the season, the calendar for the&nbsp;2027 World Athletics Indoor Tour has been announced, featuring 74 competitions across four levels.
The tour gets under way on 5 December with the Visit Winston-Salem College Kickoff in the USA, a Challenger meeting that marks the start of another packed indoor season.
The 2027 calendar currently features eight Gold-level meetings, 25 Silver, 14 Bronze and 27 Challenger meetings, providing athletes with competition opportunities across Europe, North America and Asia.
The Gold-level series begins in Belgrade, Serbia, on 27 January, before moving to Ostrava, Madrid, Boston, Karlsruhe, Li&eacute;vin and New York. The series concludes on 14 February in Toruń, Poland, which hosted the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March 2026.
<h3>2027 World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold calendar</h3>
27 Jan: Belgrade Indoor Meeting &ndash; Belgrade, Serbia 2 Feb: Czech Indoor Gala &ndash; Ostrava, Czechia 4 Feb: World Indoor Tour Gold Madrid &ndash; Madrid, Spain 6 Feb: New Balance Indoor Grand Prix &ndash; Boston, USA 7 Feb: INIT Indoor Meeting Karlsruhe &ndash; Karlsruhe, Germany 10 Feb: Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Troph&eacute;e EDF &ndash; Li&eacute;vin, France 13 Feb: Millrose Games &ndash; New York, USA 14 Feb: ORLEN Copernicus Cup Toruń &ndash; Toruń, Poland
<a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-indoor-tour/calendar-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2026-27 World Athletics Indoor Tour calendar</a>
<h3>Scoring</h3>
The scoring disciplines on the World Athletics Indoor Tour rotate each year. For 2027, the Gold-level scoring disciplines will be:
Women: 60m, 800m, 3000m, pole vault, triple jump, shot put Men: 400m, 1500m/mile, 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump
Points are awarded to the top four finishers in each scoring discipline as follows:
First place = 10pts Second place = 7pts Third place = 5pts Fourth place = 3pts
Each athlete's best three results will count towards their overall points total. The athlete with the most points in each scoring discipline at the end of the tour will be declared the winner and awarded a US$10,000 bonus. They will also be offered a wild card entry for the next edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Odisha, India, in 2028.
Each Gold meeting will offer at least US$7000 in prize money for each scoring discipline.
World Athletics

With one month to go until the first meeting of the season, the calendar for the 2027 World Athletics Indoor Tour has been announced, featuring 74 competitions across four levels.

World Indoor Tour calendar announced for 2027

The three finalists have been announced for the new-look Coach of the Year award that will form part of the World Athletics Awards on Sunday 29 November.&nbsp;
Felipe de Siqueira, Rolando &lsquo;Lonnie&rsquo; Greene and Ken Harnden are all in the running for the honour that shines a spotlight on those who play a vital role in guiding athletes in the sport.&nbsp;
The finalists:&nbsp;
<h2>Felipe de Siqueira &ndash; Brazil&nbsp;</h2>
Long-time coach of Alison dos Santos, the two-time Olympic medallist who set a 45.80 world record in the 400m hurdles and won at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in 2026. De Siqueira&rsquo;s nomination recognises the long-term development of Dos Santos from emerging talent to world record-holder.&nbsp;
<h2>Rolando &lsquo;Lonnie&rsquo; Greene &ndash; Bahamas&nbsp;</h2>
Coach of Masai Russell and Devynne Charlton. In 2026, Russell set a world 100m hurdles record of 12.09 and won the Ultimate title, while Charlton equalled her 7.65 world indoor record when winning the world indoor 60m hurdles title. Greene&rsquo;s nomination recognises both outstanding performances and the depth of his elite hurdles programme.&nbsp;
<h2>Ken Harnden &ndash; Zimbabwe&nbsp;</h2>
Coach of Ja&rsquo;Kobe Tharp, who at only 20 years of age set a 12.75 world record in the 110m hurdles and then won the Ultimate title in 2026. Harnden&rsquo;s nomination recognises Tharp&rsquo;s progression within the Auburn programme from world U20 champion to senior world record-holder.&nbsp;
The Coach of the Year honour builds on the previous World Athletics Coaching Achievement Award.&nbsp;
Members of the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/organisation/our-organisation/structure/commissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coaches&rsquo; Commission</a>, which was established at the end of 2025, decided on the long list of nominees as part of the revamped voting system. Area coaches&rsquo; associations, or alternative nominated bodies in areas where a coaches&rsquo; association is not established, then voted by ranking the nominees to ensure full voting representation across all six areas to decide on the three finalists and one winner.&nbsp;
The winner will be announced live on stage during the World Athletics Awards.&nbsp;
Other awards presented on stage will include the World Athlete of the Year and Rising Star honours, the President&rsquo;s Award and, for the first time, the Moment of the Year award.&nbsp;

The three finalists have been announced for the 2026 Coach of the Year award

Finalists announced for 2026 Coach of the Year award 

The importance of cross-commission collaboration was reinforced when the World Athletics Athletes&rsquo; Commission, Coaches&rsquo; Commission and Chair of the Competition Commission held their first joint consultation in Monaco last week.
The commissions came together to meet with World Athletics&rsquo; Competition and Events department and to discuss several key competition matters including the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 timetable, providing vital feedback for the Competition Commission.
Other items on the agenda included a review of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship and the World Rankings, as well as discussion on LA28 qualification standards, lane assignments, technical rules and organisational details of the World Athletics Relays.
The group also received a presentation from World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon on the Diamond League.
&ldquo;For the Competition Commission, this is highly significant,&rdquo; said Competition Commission Chair Ra&uacute;l Chapado Serrano. &ldquo;We often receive feedback, opinions and ideas from a group of athletes &ndash; and, separately, from a group of stakeholders &ndash; and it is valuable to bring these viewpoints together. This allows the Competition Commission, as well as the Athletes&rsquo; Commission and Coaches&rsquo; Commission, to understand each other&rsquo;s thinking and allow the Competition Commission to make fully informed recommendations to Council.
&ldquo;We must take all stakeholders into account &ndash; including member federations, event organisers and athlete representatives &ndash; as well as the athletes and coaches themselves, who are the key figures. Evaluating these matters collectively helps us broaden our perspective and identify our shared interests and a common vision.
&ldquo;Ultimately, this will benefit everyone: it will be better for World Athletics and better for competition. I believe we are moving in the right direction.&rdquo;
Athletes&rsquo; Commission Chair Valerie Adams also welcomed the opportunity to build on this inaugural consultation.
&ldquo;It's something that we have never done before, so we didn't know what to expect,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;What I am proud about is how as members of the Athletes&rsquo; Commission we were able to voice our concerns and share our views. I think we were aligned as a group, and that makes me feel incredibly proud. There are benefits to it (the joint consultation) &ndash; I&rsquo;m not sure what it is going to look like going forward but it is definitely something that we should look at finding ways to improve.&rdquo;
Coaches&rsquo; Commission Chair Frank Dick stressed the importance of teamwork and communication.
&ldquo;We're an individual sport and normally people in individual sports don't think like team players. But the fact is, if you're trying to progress things in life, teamwork is not an option &ndash; it's a strategic essential,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We often speak to the coaches about the importance of connecting and communicating. And what better way to do it than to bring together people who are totally interdependent, to have them think as a team. So here we have the Athletes&rsquo; Commission, the Competition Commission, the Coaches&rsquo; Commission all thinking: how can we make our sport even greater than it is?
&ldquo;When you come together like this, you realise that there are multiple solutions. And if we get this right, we'll make our global sport even greater than it is.&rdquo;

The importance of cross-commission collaboration was reinforced when the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission, Coaches’ Commission and Chair of the Competition Commission held their first joint consultation in Monaco last week.

Athletes', coaches' and competition commissions hold joint consultation

The three finalists for the new Moment of the Year honour have been confirmed ahead of the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on 29 November.
The Moment of the Year award has been introduced to celebrate the most memorable occasion of the season &ndash; one that may transcend a single performance and generate emotion and inspiration among fans and spectators around the world.
Finalists for the inaugural Moment of the Year award:
&bull; Botswana&rsquo;s men&rsquo;s 4x400m win on home soil at the World Athletics Relays
&bull; Josh Kerr&rsquo;s world mile record of 3:42.66 in London
&bull; Sabastian Sawe breaking two hours with a 1:59:30 world marathon record in London
The finalists were decided following a fan vote via the official World Athletics app.
The winner will be announced live on stage during the World Athletics Awards in Monaco.
Other awards presented on stage will include the women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s World Athlete of the Year and Rising Star honours, Coach of the Year and the President&rsquo;s Award.
World Athletics

The Moment of the Year award has been introduced to celebrate the most memorable occasion of the season – one that may transcend a single performance and generate emotion and inspiration among fans and spectators around the world.

Finalists announced for 2026 Moment of the Year

Andreas Almgren produced a remarkable marathon debut to take victory in the men&rsquo;s race, while Sheila Chepkirui came out on top in a brilliant closing battle as she won her second women&rsquo;s title at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (1).
As the World Athletics Platinum Label road race celebrated the 50th anniversary of its famous route through the city&rsquo;s five boroughs, it was apt that the elite contests both produced gripping grandstand finishes.
Almgren, Sweden&rsquo;s world half marathon champion and European 10,000m gold medallist, eased away from Italy&rsquo;s Yeman Crippa in Central Park to win by 13 seconds in 2:06:01.
A fast finish by Lesotho&rsquo;s Kamohelo Mofolo saw him take third place in a PB of 2:06:26, pipping Kenya&rsquo;s defending champion Benson Kipruto on the line.
The 2024 winner Chepkirui turned the tables on defending champion Hellen Obiri &ndash; who had beaten her 12 months previously &ndash; sprinting away from her fellow Kenyan to win in 2:24:36. The large Central Park crowds were also given reason to celebrate as USA&rsquo;s Jessica McClain summoned a superb closing effort to take second place from Obiri by one second in 2:24:42.&nbsp;
McClain became the first US woman to finish in the top three in New York since Shalane Flanagan in 2018.
Almgren&rsquo;s debut dominated much of the pre-race discussion and the running world was curious to see how the 31-year-old who began his athletics life as an 800m runner would fare over 26.2 miles.
Since breaking the European 5000m record in Stockholm last summer, his stock has continued to rise, with records on the roads accompanying 10,000m bronze at the World Athletics Championships last year before his history-making exploits this summer.
His European record of 58:06 on his way to the half marathon title at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September followed that commanding European 10,000m win in Birmingham, where he broke the championship record with 27:23.44.
But the marathon is a different animal entirely and he opted for the challenging championship-style set-up of New York for his first attempt. Almgren looked comfortable throughout and carefully placed himself well to strike in the latter stages.
It was not long after the large leading pack had passed through 10km in 30:52 that Kipruto eased to the front, but Almgren was right on his shoulder as the lead continued to change hands.
North American record-holder Conner Mantz and Crippa were in front 5km later in 45:51, at just under 2:09 pace, but it was USA&rsquo;s Zouhair Talbi who provided the first test to his opposition, pressing the accelerator as he went through halfway in 1:04:01.
Crippa went with him, as did another marathon debutant &ndash; Patrick Kiprop of Kenya &ndash; and opened a 15-metre gap before being swallowed up by the field again. Talbi soon surged again, though, and tried once more just after the 25km mark on Queensboro Bridge, but each time his move was covered.
Kipruto's surge to cover mile 23 in 4:38 led to a breakaway group of four.&nbsp;All the while, Almgren appeared untroubled and, by the 40km mark, he was marginally in the lead ahead of Crippa, Kipruto and Talbi.&nbsp;
Talbi was the first to fall off the back before the going also got too fast for Kipruto, leaving it to the European contenders.
Crippa is also a European 10,000m champion as he won gold in 2022, followed by the European half marathon title in 2024. He also tasted marathon victory for the first time in Paris earlier this year and while he had to settle for second this time around, he was clearly delighted with his efforts.
As was Almgren, who eased his way over the line and roared with delight at a marathon debut that could barely have gone better.&nbsp;
It was perhaps no surprise to see the women&rsquo;s race come down to a battle between Obiri and Chepkirui once again, and both were in the thick of the race from start to finish.
A cagey start suggested that Obiri&rsquo;s course record of 2:19:51 was not going to come under threat in the still, sunny autumnal conditions, as she led the pack through the opening 5km in 18:23.
As the race unfolded it emerged that not only was the Kenyan challenge going to be particularly strong but that, in the form of McClain, Carrie Ellwood, Annie Frisbie, Paige Wood and debutant Weini Kelati, the US runners were going to make their presence felt.
It was McClain, in fact, who led what had become an 11-strong group through halfway in 1:13:52, on target for a finishing time of just under 2:28. It was at the 25km point where Obiri and Chepkirui began to edge slightly ahead but they were carefully tracked by Kelati as the pace increased.
The 46-year-old two-time world champion and 2010 New York winner Edna Kiplagat was still part of a lead group that comprised eight athletes but, as with the men&rsquo;s race, eventually just four were left in contention.
Chepkirui&rsquo;s every step was shadowed by Obiri as they put daylight between themselves and their pursuers Mercy Chelangat and McClain. But, as the front two tested one another while the miles ticked down, the US athlete would not go away and in fact began to close in Central Park.
With 400 metres to go, two-time world 5000m champion Obiri attempted to kick. Perhaps the injury scare she suffered in July had an impact, but Chepkirui was able to cover that move and started to surge clear, hitting the line first to add to her victory from two years ago.
McClain, team silver medallist in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships, then seized her chance to snatch second, narrowly ahead of Obiri. Kiplagat finished fourth, just under a minute back.
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:24:36 Jessica McClain (USA) 2:24:42&nbsp; Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:24:43&nbsp; Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:25:42&nbsp; Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:25:46&nbsp; Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:26:28&nbsp; Weini Kelati (USA) 2:26:51&nbsp; Paige Wood (USA) 2:27:29&nbsp; Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:28:34&nbsp; Fabienne K&ouml;nigstein (GER) 2:28:49
Men Andreas Almgren (SWE) 2:06:01&nbsp; Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 2:06:14&nbsp; Kamohelo Mofolo (LES) 2:06:26 Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:06:27&nbsp; Haftu Strintzos (AUS) 2:06:34&nbsp; Zouhair Talbi (USA) 2:06:43&nbsp; Ahmed Muhumed (USA) 2:07:08&nbsp; Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:07:09&nbsp; Ryota Kondo (JPN) 2:07:09&nbsp; Ryan Ford (USA)&nbsp; 2:07:17 Conner Mantz (USA) 2:07:27

Andreas Almgren produced a remarkable marathon debut to take victory in the men’s race, while Sheila Chepkirui came out on top in a brilliant closing battle as she won her second women’s title at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday

Almgren wins on marathon debut, Chepkirui regains title in New York

World Athletics is deeply saddened to hear that Ireland's 2024 European 1500m champion Ciara Mageean died on Sunday (1) at the age of 34.
An inspiration to many, on and off the track, the two-time Olympian announced in July 2025 that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
A statement posted on her social media on Sunday read: &ldquo;At 6:30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed.
&ldquo;Ar dheis D&eacute; go raibh a hanam.&rdquo;
Mageean made history in 2024 by winning European 1500m gold in Rome, becoming just the second athlete after Sonia O&rsquo;Sullivan to secure an individual European title for Ireland. She added that honour to the European silver she claimed in 2022 and her European bronze from 2016, as well as the European indoor bronze medal she claimed in 2019.
She finished fourth at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest and competed at two editions of the Olympic Games, in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. She had been due to run at the 2024 Games in Paris before that was ruled out through injury.
Mageean also claimed medals at a global level, starting her career by becoming the world U18 800m silver medallist in 2009 before claiming a 1500m medal of the same colour at the World U20 Championships a year later &ndash; the same year she made her debut at the Commonwealth Games, making the 1500m final at the age of 18.
She went on to become a Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 1500m in Birmingham in 2022.
Mageean&nbsp;last competed in 2024, finishing her career as the Irish record-holder in the 800m (1:58.51), 1000m (2:31.06), 1500m (3:55.87) and mile (4:14.58).
&ldquo;It is with great sadness that we learned of Ciara&rsquo;s passing this morning at such a young age. A European champion and inspiration to many, it is a sad day for our sport &ndash; her loss will be felt across the athletics community,&rdquo;&nbsp;said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
&ldquo;On behalf of everyone at World Athletics and the wider athletics family, I send our sincere condolences to Ciara&rsquo;s family and loved ones.&rdquo;
A statement from Athletics Ireland read: &ldquo;Ciara was a much-loved and inspirational figure who touched the lives of so many. Her courage, warmth and spirit will leave a lasting legacy.
&ldquo;The thoughts and heartfelt condolences of everyone at Athletics Ireland are with Ciara&rsquo;s family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. May she rest in peace.&rdquo;
World Athletics

Ciara Mageean, 1992-2026

2024 European 1500m champion Mageean dies

The work of Nzimaheart Runners has become a shared mission thanks to the launch of the Tulizo Foundation as part of a three-year partnership with the ASICS Foundation.
Nzimaheart Runners, which has since been renamed as the Tulizo Athletics Club, is the only all-female training camp in Iten, Kenya, dedicated to supporting the growth and development of athletes in a safe environment. The group was founded by Joan Kolly Wanders, Mary Keitany and Carolyne Jepkosgei in 2024 and huge strides have been made since its launch &ndash; including the creation of the Tulizo Foundation and ASICS Foundation partnership in May of this year.
The Tulizo Foundation aims to address gender-based violence (GBV), gender inequality, and limited access to safe and supportive environments for women and girls. Through sport, education, mentorship and community engagement, the foundation works to promote dignity, protection and long-term social change.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6ae4b7ea7b1d4b1a73c337bf.JPG" alt="Kolly Wanders coaches the Nzimaheart Runners, members of the Tulizo Foundation Ambassador Programme in Iten" />
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Kolly Wanders coaches the Nzimaheart Runners, members of the Tulizo Foundation Ambassador Programme in Iten
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According to UNESCO (2025), 40% of women in Kenya have experienced emotional, physical, or psychological intimate partner violence, while one third of women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence (United Nations).
In the past, Wanders, Keitany and Jepkosgei saw the signs, but they were unable to stop it. So, they launched their mission to stop gender-based violence, one girl at a time.
&ldquo;Through the Partnership Program, ASICS Foundation works collaboratively with partner organisations rather than only providing financial support,&rdquo; says Masayo Hasegawa of the ASICS Foundation. &ldquo;We combine our respective expertise and strengths to address social challenges together.&rdquo;
<h2>Tulizo Foundation&rsquo;s four pillars</h2>
The Tulizo Foundation takes a four-pillar approach: school outreach, community outreach, community runs and the ambassador programme.
One of the programme&rsquo;s targets is 40 attendees at each community workshop. At the first community workshop on GBV, more than 150 women aged between 17 and 80 turned up.
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t have enough room; we had to add seats outside,&rdquo; says Wanders. &ldquo;Everyone was so happy, and even now, when you go on to the street, they ask: &lsquo;When is the next session?&rsquo; They have new ideas, they all wanted something that is really for women.&rdquo;
Each Tulizo workshop opens with the macarena, now a staple icebreaker of the programme.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6ae4b85d7b1d4b1a73c337c2.JPG" alt="Kolly Wanders leads the ice-breaker dance at the Tulizo Foundation workshop" />
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Kolly Wanders leads the ice-breaker dance at the Tulizo Foundation workshop (&copy; Toni Hiram)
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&ldquo;Coming together as women, having some fun, and speaking up about what women go through in their daily lives gives them courage and free space to talk and to find solutions,&rdquo; says Tulizo Foundation facilitator Clare Maina. &ldquo;We love to give solutions.&rdquo;
Hasegawa adds: &ldquo;We hope to contribute to safer and more inclusive communities where women and girls can live with dignity, participate in sport, and pursue their aspirations with confidence.&rdquo;
The impact can already be seen.
&ldquo;Walking down the street, I noticed one lady has started growing vegetables in her compound as a way to be financially independent and reduce the likelihood of GBV,&rdquo; Maina says.
Underpinning everything is the power of sport.
The group runs bring the community together through non-professional running. During Christmas, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, participants in Tulizo's community runs will also share goods with those who are less fortunate.
&ldquo;The goal of Tulizo is to make the community want to have that change, so that it comes from them, not from people telling them what to do,&rdquo; says Wanders.
The team acknowledges it will take time for trust to build and for older women to open up, but they are already starting to see it happen.
Reflecting on the ASICS team&rsquo;s recent visit to Iten, Hasegawa says: &ldquo;What stood out most was the trust that Tulizo Foundation has built within the local community and the safe environment it provides for women and girls. We could see how sport is being used not only to develop athletic potential, but also to encourage confidence, education, leadership, and mutual support.&rdquo;
Facilitators approach with a listening-first mentality, which has enabled more intergenerational stories and conversations. This generational connection is amplified through the ambassador programme.
Athletes from Tulizo Athletics Club are being trained as mentors and leaders within their community. Tulizo Foundation provides the athletes with additional education, mentorship and leadership skills. Classes include GBV, social media, financial literacy, mental health, nutrition, injury prevention and education on opportunities after their athletics careers.
The programme trains the athletes to become ambassadors for change and leadership, and to mentor the next generation. In time, the ambassador programme will invite girls from outside the camp to participate.
The Tulizo Foundation marked the first partnership project in Africa under the ASICS Foundation Partnership Program.
<h2>Next steps</h2>
&ldquo;We are very grateful to the ASICS Foundation team because they are so keen on empowering women and girls,&rdquo; says Wanders. &ldquo;With their support, it will really help us go beyond. Not just in Iten, but we are planning to go even beyond the region, to other counties, and later, nationwide. That is our biggest goal.&rdquo;
Maina adds: &ldquo;Giving back to the community doesn&rsquo;t need much energy, it just needs you and some strength.&rdquo;
That is the spirit of the women behind the Tulizo Foundation.
One girl at a time. One woman at a time. Tulizo and the ASICS Foundation team are changing the story.
Emily Colquhoun for World Athletics

The work of Nzimaheart Runners has become a shared mission thanks to the launch of the Tulizo Foundation

How the Tulizo Foundation is turning runners into changemakers

Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will return to the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (1), going in search of further success against top-class opposition at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
It will be a special edition of the event as it celebrates 50 years since the race first switched to its famous route that travels through each of the city&rsquo;s five boroughs.
Two-time winner Obiri, who last year broke Margaret Okayo&rsquo;s 2003 course record with her victorious run of 2:19:51, is looking to become part of an exclusive club of women to have come out on top in New York at least three times. The only other members of that group are Grete Waitz (9 wins), Mary Keitany (4) and Paula Radcliffe (3).
Following a challenging marathon debut there in 2022, when Obiri finished sixth, the Colorado-based two-time world 5000m champion has learned to love the streets of New York, bouncing back to win the 2023 edition of the marathon and finishing second in 2024 before last year&rsquo;s victory.
All of her four World Marathon Major wins to date have come on US soil &ndash; the others arriving in Boston &ndash; and earlier this year she won the NYC Half Marathon before finishing second to Tigst Assefa&rsquo;s women-only world record on her debut at the London Marathon in April with a personal best of 2:15:53.
Obiri has the fastest time in a women&rsquo;s field that will be without Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who has withdrawn after illness, but will feature four women who have run under 2:20. Aside from Obiri, that list includes the 2024 winner Sheila Chepkirui, who is looking to finish in the top three for the third year running, Viola Cheptoo and the 2010 champion Edna Kiplagat.
Chepkirui won the Nagoya Women&rsquo;s Marathon in March and was third in New York 12 months ago in 2:20:24 behind Sharon Lokedi&rsquo;s run of 2:20:07 as all three of the podium finishers ran inside that previous course record of 2:22:31. Boston fourth-place finisher Mary Chelangat also looks set to be in contention this time around.
Last year&rsquo;s leading US athlete, fourth-placed Fiona O&rsquo;Keeffe, will be missing following hamstring surgery but the battle among the home athletes will be a fierce one.&nbsp;
Jessica McClain had a fine run in Boston this year as she finished fifth in 2:20:49, but there is also plenty of interest around the marathon debut of Weini Kelati, who lowered her own North American half marathon record to 1:06:04 in Barcelona in March. Annie Frisbie, with a marathon best of 2:22:00, adds to the US challenge.
Germany&rsquo;s Fabienne K&ouml;nigstein, sixth in Berlin last year with 2:22:17, is also in the field, while Uruguay&rsquo;s world bronze medallist Julia Paternain &ndash; eighth in London this year &ndash; will tackle her second World Marathon Major.
No man has won New York in successive years since John Kagwe in 1998, but Kipruto is looking to change that and will be hoping he can win with more room to spare this time around.
The 35-year-old Kenyan hit the tape in 2:08:09 last year as he pipped his compatriot Alexander Mutiso on the line in Central Park by just three hundredths of a second &ndash; the tightest finish the event has ever seen.
Kipruto, a four-time World Marathon Major winner who trains alongside world record-holder Sabastian Sawe, has been in good form so far this year, finishing third in Boston in 2:02:50.
Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia, sixth in London, is the second-fastest man in the field with 2:02:38 and will be experiencing New York for the first time, as will Kenyan CyBrian Kotut, who has a best of 2:03:22, while Geoffrey Kamworor is a two-time champion and no stranger to success in the event.
With a best of 2:04:20, Dutch record-holder Abdi Nageeye will have his eye on adding to his New York win in 2024.
Swedish former 800m runner Andreas Almgren broke the European record with 58:06 on his way to the half marathon title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen in September, a performance that followed hot on the heels of a commanding 10,000m win at the European Championships in Birmingham, where he broke the championship record with 27:23.44.
The 31-year-old is also the European record-holder over 5000m and 10km but, rather than choose a marathon course more renowned for speed, he has opted for the far more challenging, championship-like New York route as the venue for his marathon debut.
As with the women&rsquo;s race, the contest between the US men in the field should be fascinating. Conner Mantz is the North American record-holder with 2:04:43 from Chicago last year. Zouhair Talbi ran even quicker in Boston with 2:03:45 for fifth place, but the Massachusetts course is not record eligible. Ryan Ford and Joe Klecker, who have bests of 2:05:46 and 2:05:56 from Boston, will also have the support of the crowd.
Great Britain&rsquo;s Patrick Dever, initially fourth on his marathon debut in New York last year with 2:08:58 but subsequently upgraded to a podium spot after third-placed Albert Korir&rsquo;s suspension for doping offences, returns after running 2:06:18 in London.
Peter Lynch also impressed in London, breaking the Irish record with 2:06:08, and he too will toe the start line.
<h3>Leading contenders</h3>
Women Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:15:53 Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 2:17:29 Viola Cheptoo (KEN) 2:19:05 Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 2:19:50 Mercy Chelangat (KEN) 2:20:30 Jessica McClain (USA) 2:20:49 Annie Frisbie (USA) 2:22:00 Fabienne K&ouml;nigstein (GER) 2:22:17 Carrie Ellwood (USA) 2:22:53 Giovanna Epis (ITA) 2:23:46 Rie Kawauchi (JPN) 2:24:16 Amanda Vestri (USA) 2:24:49 Lauren Hagans (USA) 2:25:47 Julia Paternain (URU) 2:25:47 Phily Bowden (GBR) 2:25:57 Paige Wood (USA) 2:26:02 Steph Bruce (USA) 2:27:47 Roberta Groner (USA) 2:29:09 Mica Rivera Wood (PER) 2:29:13 Cailie Hughes (USA) debut Weini Kelati (USA) debut
Men Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:02:16 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:02:38 CyBrian Kotut (KEN) 2:03:22 Zouhair Talbi (USA) 2:03:45 Abdi Nageeye (NED) 2:04:20 Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 2:04:23 Conner Mantz (USA) 2:04:43 Kengo Suzuki (JPN) 2:04:56 Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 2:05:18 Edward Cheserek (KEN) 2:05:24 Ryota Kondo (JPN) 2:05:39 Ryan Ford (USA) 2:05:46 Joe Klecker (USA) 2:05:56 Peter Lynch (IRL) 2:06:08 Patrick Dever (GBR) 2:06:18 Haftu Strintzos (AUS) 2:06:20 Jack Rowe (GBR) 2:07:47 Kamohelo Mofolo (LES) 2:08:50 Sam Chelanga (USA) 2:08:50 JP Flavin (USA) 2:09:17 Turner Wiley (USA) 2:09:27 Andrew Colley (USA) 2:09:33 Robert Miranda (USA) 2:09:40 Joel Reichow (USA) 2:09:56 Andreas Almgren (SWE) debut Patrick Kiprop (KEN) debut Ahmed Muhumed (USA) debut

Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto will return to the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday (1), going in search of further success against top-class opposition at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.

Defending champions Obiri and Kipruto head strong New York City Marathon fields

World Athletics has established a standalone Running &amp; Mass Participation department to bring even greater focus to the organisation&rsquo;s work across the global running ecosystem.
The department will be led by Jakob Larsen, who brings 25 years of experience as an international sports federation executive and industry leader. Larsen has a proven track record of developing and scaling innovative events, including the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen in 2014, the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus in 2019 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship last month in Budapest.
He will work alongside Alessio Punzi, who has been instrumental in establishing World Athletics&rsquo; presence and credibility in the running space over the past decade. The department will be responsible for a broad portfolio including World Athletics&rsquo; road running, marathon, cross country, mountain and trail events and activities, the RUN X&trade; World Treadmill Championship, the World Athletics Label Road Races programme, regulation, technical and educational services, and the development of new partnerships and opportunities across technology, data and the wider running industry.
The move comes ahead of this week&rsquo;s TCS New York City Marathon and during an active year in the running space for World Athletics. This includes the recent success of the World Road Running Championships and Global Running Conference in Copenhagen, the announcement of a standalone World Marathon Championships, the launch of the inaugural RUN X&trade; World Treadmill Championship and the recent one-year-to-go milestone for the 2027 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Cape Town.
&ldquo;World Athletics&rsquo; research informs us that at least 1 billion people worldwide are runners in some shape or form, making athletics the most-participated sport in the world,&rdquo; said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon. &ldquo;Mass participation running possesses the unique power to engage entire communities. It is a tool for mental wellbeing, wider public health, social cohesion and, for our host cities, economic development. Running is also one of the fastest growing areas of our sport, with millions participating in mass participation events, particularly on the road, every year.
&ldquo;As the international governing body for athletics, we have a responsibility to use our unique position at the global level to be a positive steward of running within our sport. In practice, that means we need to deliver on three main fronts: to safely govern running activities, to stage pinnacle global running championships that elevate the status of world champions, and to act as a catalyst to grow running &ndash; both through our own efforts and by supporting the efforts of others.&rdquo;
More than 320 road races around the world currently hold a World Athletics road race Label. Linked to the programme is World Athletics&rsquo; road race integrity programme, which raises US$3 million per year to support an extensive anti-doping testing programme designed to help keep road running clean. This complements World Athletics&rsquo; work in areas including course measurement, official results and safety. In total, World Athletics invests more than US$8 million per year in the Athletics Integrity Unit to help protect the integrity of road races across the globe.
In recent years, World Athletics has also worked to ensure fairness in elite running competition through the regulation of shoe technology, embracing innovation while ensuring all major shoe companies have access to the same technology. World Athletics also invests in a number of health and science initiatives related to running, including race emergency medicine programmes that help upskill hundreds of road race medical directors worldwide.
Its work also includes research into thermoregulation in endurance sport to mitigate health risks, with the findings used to support and educate mass participation organisers as running faces the increasing impact of a warming world.
&ldquo;We will continue to direct energy and finances into making a much more significant contribution to the running ecosystem because we believe World Athletics is one of the key organisations that can help grow running further and faster, both directly through our own efforts and indirectly through supporting the efforts of others,&rdquo; said Ridgeon.

World Athletics

World Athletics has established a standalone Running & Mass Participation department to bring even greater focus to the organisation’s work across the global running ecosystem.

World Athletics establishes new Running & Mass Participation department

World Athletics is strengthening the role of Kids&rsquo; Athletics in delivering positive social and societal impact through its participation in the Global Sport for Good Initiative, a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Athletics, World Rugby, FIBA and the Badminton World Federation.
Implemented since 2024, the Global Sport for Good Initiative aims to harness the power of sport participation to enhance wellbeing, inclusion, education and community development, while strengthening the capacity of International Federations and their members to understand and demonstrate the impact of sport.
For World Athletics, the focus is on its Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme to provide the platform through which these ambitions can be put into practice. Kids&rsquo; Athletics is one of the world&rsquo;s largest grassroots athletics development programmes, targeting children and young people aged four to 14, and reaching 170 countries and more than seven million children in its latest participation campaign.
Kids&rsquo; Athletics is helping create opportunities for children to experience athletics in ways that are fun, accessible, inclusive and responsive to their needs. At the heart of the Kids&rsquo; Athletics programme is a commitment to child-centred delivery, putting the needs, voice, experiences and wellbeing of children at the centre of how athletics is designed and delivered to them.
&ldquo;Kids&rsquo; Athletics gives us an opportunity to look beyond participation numbers and understand the difference athletics can make in the lives of young people and their communities,&rdquo; said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
&ldquo;Through the Global Sport for Good Initiative, we are strengthening the people and systems that make this possible, from Member Federations and clubs to coaches and volunteers, while building our ability to understand, measure and communicate the impact of their work.&rdquo;
World Athletics&rsquo; framework for delivering impact through Kids&rsquo; Athletics recognises that the quality and sustainability of grassroots athletics depend heavily on the capability of the people delivering it. The Kids&rsquo; Athletics delivery network, which includes 18 Master Trainers, more than 300 Member Federation Lead Educators and more than 10,000 coaches and teachers within clubs and schools, is therefore central to the approach. Through workforce development and education, the delivery network is supported to better understand children&rsquo;s needs, identify community priorities and apply child-centred approaches in their delivery.
To support this, World Athletics continues to ensure that the workforce has relevant tools and education to improve the quality of delivery and experiences for children globally. In April, World Athletics released the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/en/kids-athletics/news/kids-athletics-app-launches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kids&rsquo; Athletics app</a>, a tool for coaches and teachers designed to make delivering Kids&rsquo; Athletics simpler, faster and more engaging. With free access, full offline functionality, a built-in session planner and availability in six languages, it eliminates the need for printed materials while helping create fun, safe and positive experiences for children worldwide.
Through this initiative there is also a focus on strengthening coach education, with new content being developed and delivered based on the needs of the delivery network and the need to continue to adapt and evolve to changing requirements of children and communities globally.
For young people, the ambition extends beyond participation in a single athletics session. Through accessible, child-centred delivery, Kids&rsquo; Athletics supports participants to build confidence and motivation to be physically active, develop transferable life skills and foster a sense of belonging and community connection, supporting healthier, more active lives and a sustained positive connection to athletics, physical activity and sport.
The approach also supports Member Federations to strengthen their own capacity to understand and communicate the value and impact of athletics. By developing their ability to measure impact, Member Federations can better demonstrate the contribution of athletics to partners, governments and other stakeholders.
&ldquo;The power of sport as a force for driving community cohesion should not be underestimated,&rdquo; added Coe. &ldquo;Sport brings people together and it is imperative that we continue to support all our stakeholders &ndash; those taking part in athletics, those delivering the sport and those measuring its impact. This initiative is the next step in that mission.&rdquo;
The work will also contribute to a broader shift in how World Athletics understands and demonstrates the value of participation. Impact measurement will increasingly be embedded across Kids&rsquo; Athletics delivery at all levels, helping build an evidence base for how athletics can contribute to health, wellbeing, inclusion, education and community development.
Through the Global Sport for Good initiative, World Athletics will continue to work alongside the IOC and the three other participating International Federations to share learning, strengthen practice and explore how sport can contribute to positive change.
The shared vision is a future where sport is part of everyday life for more people, and where the people delivering sport are equipped and empowered to ensure that participation creates meaningful and lasting benefits for individuals and communities worldwide.
World Athletics

World Athletics is strengthening the role of Kids’ Athletics in delivering positive social and societal impact through its participation in the Global Sport for Good Initiative

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