World Athletics unveils trophies for inaugural Ultimate Championship winners
World Athletics has unveiled the trophies that will be awarded to winners of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, with Budapest set to host the historic event from September 11 to 13.
Design philosophy behind the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship trophies
Unlike traditional athletics championships, the Ultimate Championship will not award medals. Instead, each athlete who wins an event will receive a bespoke trophy designed around the championship’s star logo and the concept of “carving your name in history.”
The trophies were revealed on Tuesday, September 1, as World Athletics marked 10 days to the start of the new global championship in Budapest, Hungary.
Each trophy has been designed to represent the uniqueness of becoming an Ultimate Champion, with the award created to reflect the championship’s goal of identifying the best of the best in athletics.
The trophy is designed to resemble a stone statue, with its shape inspired by the star logo of the Ultimate Championship. Gold inlay has also been incorporated to symbolise the athlete’s triumph.
The award is not complete on its own.
Every athlete competing at the championship will receive a personalised bracelet carrying their name on the exterior and the official event name on the interior. The bracelet is designed to connect with the trophy and complete the piece when an athlete wins their event.
The concept behind the customised trophy and bracelet was inspired by Noah Lyles, the American sprint star who is serving as the Ultimate Championship’s Master of Ceremonies and Creative Adviser.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said the decision to move away from traditional medals was deliberate, with the championship designed around the idea of crowning one ultimate winner in each event.
“We have made an intentional decision to move away from medals as the awards at the Ultimate Championship,” Coe said.
“This global championship is all about striving to be the one athlete who comes out on top.”
The trophies will also be presented differently from conventional medal ceremonies.
After winning their event, each Ultimate Champion will collect their trophy from a plinth at the competition site. The moment will be accompanied by video, sound and fireworks before the athlete begins a lap of honour.
Following the lap, the champion will carry the trophy through the stands and along the Champion’s Pathway towards the television mixed zone.
World Athletics says the Ultimate Champions will be the only athletes leaving Budapest with the bespoke trophies.
The inaugural Ultimate Championship will bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Wanda Diamond League winners and the year’s leading performers to determine the “champion of champions.”
The three-day event will feature 28 events and a record US$10 million prize pot, with each individual champion set to receive US$150,000.
With the new trophy design, World Athletics is extending the championship’s distinctive identity beyond the competition itself.
For the athletes who claim victory in Budapest, the trophy and personalised bracelet will serve as a permanent reminder of becoming the first-ever Ultimate Champions.