South Africa had two athletes in the 100m final for the first time in the history of the World Athletics Championships. Gift Leotlela and Akani Simbine finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

Both Simbine and Leotlela will be in action in the 100m relay later this week.

Leotlela finished in 9.95 with Simbine posting a disappointing 10.04. Gold went to Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in 9.77, his countryman Kishane Thompson claimed silver in 9.82, and American Noah Lyles got bronze in 9.89.

Botswana’s Letsile Tobogo was disqualified due to a false start, leaving seven runners to compete for the medals. Simbine and Leotlela were placed in the outside lanes after qualifying.

Both Simbine and Leotlela will be in action in the 100m relay later this week. For all the schedule details, visit the World Athletics Championships website.

Other notable SA achievements: Adriaan Wildschutt claimed 10th position in the 10000 m final, finishing in 28 minutes 59.47 seconds, with the gold going to Frenchman Jimmy Gressier in 28:55.77, who won after a sensational final 80m finishing surge.

Zakithi Nene and Lythe Pillay eased through their respective heats to book places in the 400m semifinals. Nene won his heat in 44.34 seconds, with Pillay second in his heat in 44.73.

Du Plantis Makes History… Again!
At just 25, Swede Armand Duplantis laid a case for being the greatest track and field athlete in history after winning his third world outdoor title and, again, breaking the world record. The flying Swede bettered his own world record by 1cm clearing 6.30m on his third attempt in front of a capacity crowd.

Duplantis is a two-time Olympic (2020 and 2024) champion, a three-time World outdoor (2022, 2023 and 2025) champion and a three-time World indoor (2022, 2024 and 2025) champion

Christian Petersen//Getty Images

Photo Finish! Alphonce Simbu Wins the Closest World Championship Marathon Ever
In the closest marathon finish in world championship history, Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania just squeezed past Amanal Petros of Germany at the line to win the 2025 title in 2:09:48. Petros, who looked to have a slight edge with 50 metres to go, was given the same time for his silver medal performance. Illiass Aouani of Italy, who entered the stadium with Simbu and Petros for the final 350 meters, took the bronze medal in 2:09:53.

Jefferson-Wooden Run Fourth Fastest Time in History in 100m
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden’s incredible season hit its peak on Sunday. The 24-year-old won her first gold medal in the 100 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Her winning time of 10.61 seconds broke the championship record and put her No. 4 on the all-time list in the event.

The world leader dominated the competition at Japan National Stadium, breaking away from Jamaica’s Tina Clayton, and reigning Olympic champion Julien Alfred, who secured silver in 10.76 and bronze in 10.84 seconds, respectively. Jefferson-Wooden’s winning time also equals the fastest ever time at a global championship, tied with Elaine Thompson-Herah’s Olympic record set at the Tokyo Games in 2021, according to World Athletics.

Jepchirchir Wins Thrilling Women’s Marathon
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya outlasted Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia in a stunning sprint to the finish in the women’s marathon, capturing gold by a slim margin of 2:24:43 to 2:24:45. After American Susanna Sullivan led the field through 25K, grabbing ice bags and a hat with cooling technology at aid stations, the two favourites took over just after 29km, putting nearly a minute on Sullivan by the 30K mark. The real race had just begun – and it didn’t end until the duo entered Japan National Stadium for a final 350-metre sprint. Assefa’s background as a sub-2 800-metre runner may have tipped her to be the favourite in a sprint finish, but Jepchirchir had more in the tank. The 31-year-old took the edge in the final home stretch, sprinting to her second marathon victory in the Japanese capital.

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