Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo

TOKYO (AP) — Amid the power and speed of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, it’s the details that tell another story. Tattoos, colorful nails, bold jewelry, and unique hairstyles showcase individuality alongside performance. And chalked hands, sweat-drenched brows and bare feet splashing through the steeplechase pit reveal the smaller moments behind world-class competition.

This photo gallery, curated by AP photo editors, features details from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo heading into the final weekend of competition.

___

AP News sports: https://apnews.com/sports

AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews/

Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Twanisha Terry after finishing a women’s 100 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova prepares to start a women’s 400 meters hurdles semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Germany’s Joshua Abuaku prepares to compete in the men’s 400 meters hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Poland’s Ewa Swoboda displays body art after finishing a women’s 100 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
The hair of United States’ Melissa Jefferson-Wooden as she competes in the women’s 100 meters semifinal heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Turkey’s Tugba Danismaz pauses during the women’s triple jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Tattoos are seen on the legs of Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore during women’s 200 meters semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Britain’s Victoria Ohuruogu adjusts her footwear as she prepares to compete in the women’s 400 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Katie Moon gets ready to compete in the women’s pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Trinidad And Tobago’s Jereem Richards prepares to start in the men’s 400 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Jamaica’s Nayoka Clunis competes in the women’s hammer throw qualification at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Katie Moon gets ready to compete in the women’s pole vault final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Hungary’s Bence Halasz rests in the men’s hammer throw final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Ukraine’s Iryna Klymets prepares for an attempt in the women’s hammer throw qualification at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon prepares to compete in women’s 400 meters hurdles semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas competes in the women’s triple jump final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Christopher Bailey prepares to start a men’s 400 meters semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Italy’s Antonella Palmisano, who took the silver medal, stands on the track after the the women’s 35 kilometers race walk at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Japan’s Shota Fukuda gets ready for an attempt in the men’s hammer throw qualification at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei competes in a heat of the women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase after losing a shoe at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos showcase individuality alongside performance at the world athletics championships in Tokyo | iNFOnews.ca
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Shafiqua Maloney prepares to start a women’s 800 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.