Four African athletes among first-ever World Ultimate champions

Four African athletes made history in Budapest as the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship produced its first-ever champions.

Botswana's Collen Kebinatshipi, Algeria's Djamel Sedjati, Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw and Senegal's Saly Sarr each claimed titles as some of the world's leading athletes competed in the three-day season finale.

Kebinatshipi was the first African winner, powering to the men's 400m title in a national record of 43.39 seconds. The 22-year-old, already the world and Diamond League champion, finished just 0.01outside the world-leading time of 43.38.

The performance moved Kebinatshipi to sole fifth on the world all-time list and extended his record for sub-44-second races in a single season to six.

Sedjati then delivered Algeria's first title of the championships in the men’s 800m, winning in 1:41.91. Canada's Marco Arop finished second in 1:42.28. 

Kenyan world and Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who arrived at the games as favourite, was third in 1:42.44.

Victory for Sedjati meant he secured his first global title after previous world championship silver medals in 2022 and 2025 and an Olympic bronze in 2024.

Ethiopia's Amebaw produced one of the most dominant performances of the championships in the women's 5000m, winning in a Hungarian all-comers' record of 14:30.36. 

Australia's Jessica Hull was second in 14:32.39, with another Ethiopian Fantaye Belayneh coming third in 14:32.62.

Senegal’s Saly Sarr completed Africa's winning quartet with victory in the women's triple jump.

The 23-year-old, fresh from winning the Diamond League trophy in Brussels just one week ago, needed just one jump to establish the winning mark, opening with 15.06 meters. Cuba's Davisleydi Velazco came close with 15.04m, but no athlete managed to surpass Sarr’s opening effort.

The four African successes came alongside a strong showing by the US, which led the championships with 10 titles across individual and relay events.

The championship brought together 381 athletes from 65 federations across 28 events, with a record $10 million prize pool. Individual champions received $150,000.