For the first time in history, the World Athletics Championships will bring the curtain down on the outdoor track and field season- and there’s no more fitting stage than Tokyo, the site of so many Olympic memories, to host this historic moment.
Tokyo 25, running from 13–21 September, marks the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships and the first time it has served as the season finale. This landmark event comes after a long, dramatic year that already featured the World Indoor Championships and a headline-grabbing Olympic Games in Paris.
Here are the top five matchups to look for at World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo
1. Noah Lyles vs the Field – Men’s 100m & 200m
He’s the showman of sprinting, the reigning world champion in both 100m and 200m, and the Olympic gold medalist in the shorter distance. Yet Noah Lyles enters Tokyo with question marks hanging over his form.
So far in 2025, Lyles has dipped under 10 seconds just once in the 100m and has already been beaten by Jamaican stars Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s never count out Noah Lyles on the big stage.
In the 200m- his signature event- he’s still the man to beat, having outpaced Olympic champ Letsile Tebogo twice on the Diamond League circuit. But don’t sleep on Kenny Bednarek or Australian sensation Gout Gout, who is making his World Athletics Championships debut at just 18.
Also Read: World Athletics Championships: Noah Lyles Headlines Team USA
2. Julien Alfred vs Jamaica vs USA – Women’s 100m
The World Athletics Championships 2025 women’s 100m is shaping up to be the most competitive sprint final of the year.
Julien Alfred, the Olympic champion from Saint Lucia, takes on Sha’Carri Richardson, the reigning world champion from the USA, in a rematch that has track fans buzzing. Add in Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, another U.S. threat, and the showdown is already stacked.
Then come the Jamaicans- and the emotions. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, one of the all-time greats, will run her final global race. With five world titles and two Olympic golds over 100m, the 37-year-old is chasing one last crowning moment. Shericka Jackson, the defending 200m world champ, will double up in Tokyo and is a podium threat in both sprints.
3. Warholm, Benjamin, and dos Santos – Men’s 400m Hurdles
Track fans know this as one of the sport’s best rivalries- and it’s back with full force.
Karsten Warholm, the world record holder and defending world champion, has rebounded in 2025 after a rocky Olympic season. He’s won five of his six races, including a world-best 32.67 over 300m hurdles.
But in Stockholm, he lost to Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos, who both look ready to challenge his dominance once again. The trio have redefined what’s possible in this brutal event- and every time they line up together, records and reputations are on the line.
4. Mahuchikh vs Olyslagers – Women’s High Jump Duel
In a season packed with elite performances, the women’s high jump has quietly become one of the most compelling events on the circuit.
Ukrainian star Yaroslava Mahuchikh is the reigning Olympic and world champion- and also the world record holder at 2.10m. But in Zurich, Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers stunned the field by clearing 2.04m, setting a new national and area record, and claiming the Diamond Trophy.
Behind them, the pack is deep: Yuliia Levchenko, Morgan Lake, and Christina Honsel have all cleared the magical 2.00m barrier this year.
6. Shelly-Ann’s Last Dance – A Farewell with Fire
There are few athletes more beloved in global athletics than Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The Jamaican icon, nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket,” is calling time on a glittering career- and Tokyo will be her final major meet. The World Athletics Championships will be a last dance for the Jamaican.
Even at 37, she’s still capable of podium performances, and her mere presence electrifies any race she’s in. Whether or not she medals, her final bow will be a moment to remember.
