Athletics: Not just Warholm vs. Duplantis – New formats for new fans

This is how modernizers of athletics imagine it: a good show, a well-staged duel between two stars, and after an hour and a half it’s all over again. The 100-meter race between pole vault ace Armand “Mondo” Duplantis and hurdle world record holder Karsten Warholm in Zurich offered the best evening entertainment. And with his winning time of 10.37 seconds, Duplantis would have easily beaten many specialists in the heats at the Olympics in Paris. Warholm’s 10.47 seconds was also worthy of all praise.

The race, broadcast by the beverage manufacturer Red Bull on its own TV channel, has been advertised in the media for days. Spectators in the main grandstand in Zurich’s historic Letzigrund were warmed up with an entertainment program and interviews with other athletics greats.

Coe: Only purists still watch traditional World Cup

Such formats are likely to be what World Federation President Sebastian Coe envisions in the future. “We are far too conservative as a sport,” the former British middle-distance star told “Spiegel” before the World Championships last year, and gave a blunt assessment of the World Championships in his sport: “A nine-day competition in which three to four-hour sessions are held every day – only purists like me watch something like that.”

This contrasts with the enthusiasm at the Olympic Games in Paris. The 70,000 loud spectators in the Stade de France made the morning events an unforgettable experience for most of the athletes. Athletics in its old form could not have wished for better advertising.

Coe, however, stressed a year ago before the World Cup: “I fear that such a format simply no longer fits the lifestyle of younger people, who are much more interested in faster events and in corresponding digital content that is well prepared.”

Duplantis in the bathtub

The event in Zurich on the day before the traditional meeting offered exactly that. The focus was on two of the most famous protagonists that athletics has had to offer since the departure of the almost irreplaceable Usain Bolt – presented in bathrobes like boxers before a fight. Duplantis is working on becoming even more famous, and not just with titles and world records. The 24-year-old posted a photo of himself at night – lying in the bathtub.

In Germany, decathlete Leo Neugebauer is aiming to become the face of local athletics. The Olympic silver medalist, who is very active on social media, reported that he is now constantly recognized in this country. In order to present Neugebauer, a three-way competition was held at the Berlin Istaf, with the final 1,500-meter run as a pursuit race. Neugebauer was the first to cross the finish line and was immediately recognizable as the winner to 40,000 spectators. Former decathlete and ARD expert Frank Busemann emphasized that he has been advocating for such a format for a long time.

New formats at Meeting in Fribourg

Coe is also an advocate of making the sport more understandable and accessible and taking the long-windedness out of it. One idea from the world association is to replace the bar in the long jump with a take-off zone, thus reducing the number of failed attempts. This – and a lot more – was tried out at the meeting in Fribourg in Switzerland last Sunday. There was an obstacle race over 1,600 metres instead of 3,000 metres. An attempt at the javelin throw was only recorded if there was an improvement.

Johnson plans Grand Slam track

Former 200 and 400 meter star Michael Johnson from the USA wants to set up his own series of running events. The series, known as the Grand Slam Track, is to take place four times a year from 2025 over three days each and will distribute a total of 12.6 million dollars in prize money to the athletes. Olympic hurdle champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has already confirmed her participation, as have all the men’s 1,500 meter medalists, and further commitments have been announced. “The world is waiting for something like this, and we can fill that gap,” said Johnson when presenting the plans. That remains to be seen.

The world association is countering this with a new, three-day world championship, which will be held for the first time in September 2026 in Budapest and then every two years. World champions, Olympic champions, Diamond League winners and the best athletes of the year will compete against each other to crown the “ultimate champion”. Prize money of ten million dollars will be awarded. For Duplantis and Warholm, their duel on Wednesday evening will have already paid off financially.