Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, celebrates with the audience after winning the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The world’s top track and field athletes are competing in Hungary over three nights, with 28 events and $150,000 for each winner. The new Ultimate Championship is set to return every two years.
Athletes compete in the mixed 4 X 100 meters relay final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)Sandi Morris, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women’s pole vault final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, makes an attempt in the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men’s 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, center, races before winning the men’s 5,000 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)Klaudia Kazimierska, of Poland, reacts after winning the women’s 1,500 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)Competitors line up to start the women’s 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)Claire Bryant, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women’s long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Jazmin Sawyers, of Britain, makes an attempt in the women’s long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Keely Hodgkinson, of Britain, right, assists Veronica Vancardo, of Switzerland, who fell in a women’s 800 meters semifinal during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)Masai Russell, of the United States, second right, wins a women’s 100 meters hurdles semifinal ahead of Nadine Visser, of the Netherlands, left, and Ackera Nugent, of Jamaica, who falls during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, makes an attempt in the women’s high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Angelina Topic, of Serbia, center left, and Eleanor Patterson, of Australia, wait their turn to make an attempt in the women’s high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women’s 100 meters final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine clears the bar during the women’s high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
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.