The World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun kicked off with a bang. Four sets of medals were awarded on Friday, highlighted by Jordan Anthony becoming the fastest man in the world indoors this year with a blistering 6.41s performance.
Favorites Triumph in High Jump and Triple Jump
The first gold medal of the championships at the Kujawy-Pomorskie Arena went to Yaroslava Mahuchikh. The Ukrainian superstar, current world record holder, and Olympic champion, confirmed her absolute dominance in the high jump. Mahuchikh secured the title by clearing 2.01m on her first attempt. After clinching the gold, she made three unsuccessful attempts at a new championship record of 2.06m.
The women’s high jump final produced an incredibly rare result on the podium. Three athletes—Yuliya Levchenko (Ukraine), Nicola Olyslagers (Australia), and Angelina Topić (Serbia)—finished with identical marks of 1.99m. Due to a clean sheet at previous heights, officials awarded three silver medals, marking a historic moment for the event. While all three medalists showed elite form, Mahuchikh remained the only competitor to clear the two-meter barrier.
During the evening session, the spotlight shifted to the triple jump pit, where Andy Diaz Hernandez successfully defended his world title. Representing Italy, Diaz Hernandez set the tone early with a massive first-round jump of 17.47m, the world-leading mark this season. This distance proved unreachable for the rest of the field despite several ambitious attempts from the challengers.
The silver medal went to Jamaica’s Jordan Scott, who posted a season-best 17.33m, while Algeria’s Yasser Mohammed Triki rounded out the podium with 17.30m. The high caliber of the competition was evident as the previous world leader had to settle for the bronze.
American Dominance in Sprints and Shot Put
The fastest man on Day 1 was Team USA’s Jordan Anthony in the 60m final. Following a grueling semifinal battle with teammate Trayvon Bromell, Anthony found an extra gear for the final. He clocked a world-leading 6.41s to take the gold. His victory over Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson (6.45s) was decisive, while the battle for bronze was settled by a mere thousandth of a second.
In the women’s shot put, Chase Jackson (USA) led the charge. The two-time outdoor world champion finally secured her long-awaited indoor gold with a toss of 20.14m in the fourth round. She was the only athlete to break the 20-meter mark, becoming only the second American woman in history to win this indoor title.
Canada’s Sarah Mitton took the silver with a best effort of 19.78m. A fierce battle for third saw Axelina Johansson come out on top. The Swede not only secured her country’s first-ever medal in a women’s throwing event at this competition but also set a national record of 19.75m.
Middle-Distance Elite Surge Toward Finals
Day 1 also featured intense qualifying rounds in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m. In the women’s 400m semifinals, Norway’s Henriette Jaeger posted the fastest time of the day in 50.95s. She was followed closely by Lurdes Gloria Manuel (Czech Republic) and Lieke Klaver (Netherlands), setting the stage for a highly competitive final on Saturday.
In the 800m heats, the favorites lived up to expectations. Belgium’s Eliot Crestan led the men’s qualifying with a time of 1:45.51, while Italy’s Eloisa Coiro topped the women’s side in 1:59.87. Nearly all podium contenders advanced, including Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, who comfortably controlled her heat.
On the tactical side, Spain’s Mariano Garcia looked strong in the men’s 1500m, winning the third heat in 3:38.19. For the women, Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom led the field with a 4:10.66, qualifying first for Sunday’s final. The 1500m races were largely tactical, leading to a slower pace in several heats as runners focused on positioning.
