The World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń delivered another round of unforgettable emotions. From Devynne Charlton equaling her own world record to the stunning victory of 17-year-old phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus in the 800m, here is the recap of the final day of competition.
Charlton Matches World Record; Skrzyszowska Claims Bronze with Polish Record
Sunday’s finals at the Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń were defined by incredible achievements on the track. In a true masterclass, Bahamian star Devynne Charlton dominated the 60m hurdles, capturing gold and equaling her own world record of 7.67 seconds. With this victory, Charlton became the first woman in history to win three consecutive world indoor titles in this event. In the same race, Nadine Visser of the Netherlands secured silver (7.73s), while Poland’s Pia Skrzyszowska took the bronze, setting a new Polish national record of 7.73 seconds.
17-Year-Old American Becomes Youngest World Champion in History
A piece of history was written in the men’s 800 meters by 17-year-old American Cooper Lutkenhaus. Defeating a field of much more experienced rivals, he clocked a time of 1:44.24, making him the youngest male gold medalist in the history of the World Indoor Championships. After taking the lead on the third lap, Lutkenhaus never looked back, holding off Belgium’s Eliott Crestan and Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui.
In the women’s 800m, Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson was in a league of her own. She stormed to victory with a new Championship Record of 1:55.30, which stands as the second-fastest indoor time in world history.
The 1500-meter events also provided high-octane drama. Britain’s Georgia Hunter-Bell clinched gold after a fierce sprint finish, clocking a world-leading 3:58.53. On the men’s side, Mariano Garcia achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Spaniard to win world indoor gold at this distance. Garcia controlled the race from start to finish, crossing the line in 3:39.63 ahead of Portugal’s Isaac Nader and Australia’s Adam Spencer.
Portugal Dominates Long Jump; Walsh Secures Shot Put Gold
The field events on the final day saw a “Portuguese double” in the long jump. In the men’s competition, Gerson Baldé (8.46m) snatched the lead from favorite Mattia Furlani on his final attempt, recording a world-leading mark. Earlier in the morning session, Agate De Sousa secured gold for Portugal with a jump of 6.92m, beating Italy’s Larissa Iapichino and Colombia’s Natalia Linares.
In the men’s shot put, New Zealand’s Tom Walsh further cemented his legendary status. The 34-year-old claimed his fourth world indoor title with a final-round toss of 21.82m. This marked his historic seventh World Indoor medal, making him the most decorated shot putter in the event’s history. Walsh outpaced Americans Jordan Geist and Roger Steen, who filled the remaining podium spots.
Cauldery Triumphs in Pole Vault; Dokter Wins Pentathlon
The women’s pole vault featured a thrilling duel between Molly Cauldery (GBR) and Tina Sutej (SLO). While both cleared 4.80m on their first attempts, the Briton was the only one to scale 4.85m, reclaiming her world title. In a rare occurrence, the bronze medal was shared by three athletes from Switzerland, Czechia, and New Zealand, all clearing 4.70m with identical cards.
In the women’s pentathlon, Sofie Dokter of the Netherlands took gold with 4,888 points, finishing ahead of American Anna Hall.
USA Dominates Relays and Medal Table
The championships concluded with the traditional 4x400m relays, resulting in a double victory for Team USA. The American men set a Championship Record of 3:01.52, finishing ahead of Belgium and Jamaica. The American women won a nail-biting battle against the Netherlands, taking gold in 3:25.81. Spain secured the bronze in the final meters, narrowly beating the host nation, Poland.
The United States convincingly topped the medal table with 18 total medals, including five golds. Great Britain followed in second with four golds, while Italy rounded out the top three. Poland finished the championships in ninth place overall.
During the event in Toruń, the World Athletics Council also announced the hosts for future editions: Bhubaneswar, India will host in 2028, and Astana, Kazakhstan in 2030. Next year, Europe’s elite will meet in Valencia, Spain for the European Indoor Championships. The Toruń championships will be remembered for an exceptionally high level of competition, packed with continental and world records.
World Indoor Championships Toruń 2026: Setting a New Gold Standard
The Kujawy Pomorze 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships have officially made history as the highest-quality edition in the event’s existence. Described by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe as a “true athletic feast,” the championships became a pivotal moment on the global calendar, offering athletes the highest level of competition ahead of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
The extraordinary nature of this edition was highlighted by two world records: Simon Ehammer in the heptathlon and Devynne Charlton in the 60m hurdles. Additionally, six new championship records were established, including an incredible 6.25m performance by Mondo Duplantis.
The scale of the event was equally impressive, featuring 632 athletes from 111 countries, including a record 309 female competitors. The success was truly global, with athletes from 32 different nations reaching the podium.
Beyond the sporting achievements, the championships were a massive branding and media success. There was a 72% increase in media visibility compared to the previous record-breaking edition in Glasgow, with broadcasts reaching over 130 locations worldwide.
Thanks to an enthusiastic and deeply engaged crowd, Poland has once again confirmed its status as one of the beating hearts of global track and field.
