World Athletics has unveiled the official medals for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will take place from September 13 to 21 at the National Stadium in Tokyo, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The medals, which will be awarded to athletes at the championships, were crafted with input from Japanese student-athletes and design experts.
According to the governing body, each medal features sweeping stripes inspired by the official event logo, with Tokyo’s city code “TYO” stylised as a running track, symbolising momentum and global connection through sport.
President of the Local Organising Committee, Mitsugi Ogata, described the design as a symbol of unity, sustainability and ambition ahead of the global competition.
Ogata, in a statement made available to PUNCH Sports Extra to mark the 100-day countdown to the championships, said the medal design reflects the collective effort of young athletes and design specialists across Japan.
“I am delighted to unveil the official medal design and medal case on this symbolic day, 100 days before the World Athletics Championships return to Tokyo,” Ogata said.
“This design is the result of a truly collaborative effort. Design experts and youth athletes all contributed their voices to help shape something meaningful for athletes around the world.
“The medal case, crafted from locally sourced Tama wood, reflects our commitment to sustainability. With the distinctive track stripe from our official logo incorporated into the medal design, I hope it becomes a powerful source of motivation for the athletes who strive to hold it in their hands, and a lasting memory for fans both in Japan and around the world.”
With the unveiling of the medals comes renewed hope for Nigeria, who will be aiming for a return to the podium after failing to win a single medal at the 2023 edition of the championships in Budapest, Hungary, despite fielding 27 athletes.
The upcoming event offers the country a chance to improve on its all-time tally of 11 medals, which includes one gold, five silver and five bronze.
That sole gold came in dramatic fashion in 2022 when Tobi Amusan made history in Eugene, United States, by becoming Nigeria’s first world champion after winning the women’s 100m hurdles in a world record-breaking semi-final and a wind-aided final.
As preparations intensify, 12 Nigerian athletes have already qualified for Tokyo 2025, meeting the automatic standards across a range of track and field events.
Amusan returns to defend her crown in the 100m hurdles, while sprinters Favour Ofili, Tima Godbless and Kayinsola Ajayi have all qualified in the short sprints.
Middle-distance runner Samuel Ogazi, quarter-miler Ella Onojuvwevwo, and hurdler Ezekiel Nathaniel, who made the cut in both the 400m flat and hurdles, will also be in contention.
In the field events, Temitope Adeshina will compete in the high jump, and veteran shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has qualified with a season-best throw that exceeded the required mark.
AloJapan.com