Americans Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Kenny Bednarek secured double sprint gold at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, each winning the 100m and 200m titles and a $300,000 jackpot. Jefferson-Wooden's 200m time of 21.47 seconds made her the third fastest woman in history, while Bednarek, known as "Kung Fu Kenny," dominated the men's 200m. The event, designed for television, drew sellout crowds and featured other star athletes like Gianmarco Tamberi and Mondo Duplantis, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe noting its potential for future Olympic and World Championship elements.
US Olympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek has expressed strong support for India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Citing his personal connection through his Indian girlfriend, golfer Sharmila Nicollet, and his admiration for the country's diverse culture, Bednarek believes India would be an ideal host, offering a unique experience for athletes and visitors. India is among seven nations vying for the 2036 Games, also planning bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2038 Asian Games.
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship saw thrilling performances on its second day, with Audrey Werro defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800m and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden clocking the season's fastest time in the women's 100m. Other notable winners included Kenny Bednarek in the men's 100m, Collen Kebinatshipi and Marileidy Paulino in the 400m, Haruka Kitaguchi in javelin, Klaudia Kazimierska in 1500m, Miltiadis Tentoglou in long jump, and Sandi Morris in pole vault.
Olympic champion Armand Duplantis fell short of his bid for a world record at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, suffering a surprise defeat as Australia's Kurtis Marschall clinched victory with a clearance of 5.90 metres on his third attempt.
Sharmila Nicollet and Kenny Bednarek have been dating since 2020, the year he won his first silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Noah Lyles secured a world-leading 9.79 seconds in the 100 metres final at the U.S. Championships, equalling his personal best, while Sha'Carri Richardson dominated the women's 100m, clinching the title in 10.77.
World champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden defeated Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred in the women's 100 metres, while Oblique Seville secured victory in the men's sprint at the Silesia Diamond League.
Kishane Thompson laid down a marker ahead of next month's world championships when the Jamaican came out on top in the highly-anticipated 100 metres against Olympic champion Noah Lyles at the Silesia Diamond League meeting on Saturday.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden became only the second woman to sweep all three sprint titles at one World Athletics Championships.
Botswana declares half-day holiday to mark first Olympic gold
Images from the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Glimpses from India and around the world that will make you smile and cry.
Noah Lyles said that his Paris Games are over, hours after he needed medical attention
Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win the men's Olympic 200 metres title on Thursday when he powered clear of American duo Kenny Bednarek and a COVID-hit Noah Lyles to claim Botswana's first Olympic gold medal.
Botswana's Letsile Tebogo set the fastest time in the men's Olympic 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday, proving his intent to upset American Noah Lyles's quest for a sprint double.
American Kenny Bednarek, a twice Olympic champion, built up an enormous lead around the turn and stumbled through the tape to win the 200m in 20.07, three-tenths of a second ahead of Briton Zharnel Hughes, and clinch the men's short sprints slam.
Images from the Diamond League Finals at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Saturday.
The current Olympic champion Italy's Marcell Jacobs, who has had a wretched time with injury since his shock Tokyo success, looked a little sluggish in finishing second in 10.05 behind Nigerian heat winner Kayinsola Ajayi (10.02).
The Americans last won gold in the men's 200m in the 2004 Olympics, when Shawn Crawford led home a US clean sweep, and they look capable of repeating that.
American Athing Mu shook off the disappointment of her third-place finish at worlds to win the women's 800 metres in 1:54.97, holding off Britain's Keely Hodgkinson, who finished second in 1:55.19.
American Noah Lyles stormed to his third consecutive world 200 metres title on Friday to underline his status as the best in the business since Usain Bolt.
Images from the athletics action at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris, on Friday.
Images from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday, Day 7.
Olympic champions Elaine Thompson-Herah, Selemon Barega, Armand Duplantis, Steven Gardiner, Emmanuel Korir, Hansle Parchment and Karsten Warholm were all beaten.
Images from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Tuesday, Day 5.
Images from the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Monday, Day 4.
The 21-year-old stuttered on the penultimate barrier but surged down the home stretch to power across the line and beat her previous record of 51.90 set at the U.S. trials in June.
IMAGES from the EPL matches played on Saturday
The FIFA 2022 World Cup will kick-off in Qatar on Sunday, November 20. Here is a list of the 26-man squads playing in the quadrennial global football extravaganza.
