*This content was translated by AI.
A massive track and field event that even "the Emperor of Track," Usain Bolt (Jamaica), would envy is about to begin.
Reuters reported on the 11th (Korean time) that "Bolt was amazed by the enormous prize pool ahead of the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship."
The Ultimate Championship, newly created by World Athletics, will be held for three days from the 12th to the 14th in Budapest, Hungary, according to Korean time.
From the very first edition, top-tier track and field stars including world champions and Olympic champions are all participating. Athletes from 65 member federations totaling 381 will compete across 28 events.
Most notably eye-catching is the scale of the prize money. According to World Athletics, a total of 0.1 billion dollars (approximately 14 billion won) is at stake for this event. This is the largest prize pool ever for a single track and field competition.
Individual event winners will receive 150,000 dollars (approximately 210 million won). Second place receives 75,000 dollars (approximately 100 million won), and third place receives 40,000 dollars (approximately 60 million won).
Considering that the individual event winner's prize at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan last year was 70,000 dollars, this amount is more than double.
It is not only top-ranked athletes who receive prizes. In individual events, prizes are awarded up to 16th place. Even the lowest-ranked 16th-place athlete receives 2,000 dollars. The winning relay team is awarded 80,000 dollars (approximately 110 million won).
Bolt, regarded as the greatest sprinter in track and field history, could not hide his envy at the enormous prize pool.
Bolt shared a conversation he had with Asafa Powell, who shares the former 100m world record, stating, "We happened to have the exact same conversation. I said, 'Wow, we missed out on this prize money.'"
Even for Bolt, who swept numerous international championships during his active career, the prize money for this event was at an astonishing level.
Bolt remarked, "I have won championships many times, but even if I added up all the prize money I received back then, it would not equal this prize pool," expressing amazement at its "enormous scale."
He continued, "This is a good thing for sports. It motivates athletes to do their best," and jokingly added, "I regret missing out on this opportunity."
He also indicated that if the Ultimate Championship had existed during his prime, he would have participated without hesitation.
Bolt emphasized, "If you followed my athletic career, you would know what kind of person I am. I valued competing against the best athletes."
He further stated, "The athletes participating in the Ultimate Championship are the world's best," and highly praised it by saying, "I would have regarded this event as a competition just as big as the Olympics or the World Championships."
World Athletics has launched not only massive prize money but also new initiatives that differentiate it from existing track and field events.
According to Reuters, schedules were simplified to reduce unnecessary waiting time between competitions, and black infields and dramatic lighting effects have been introduced at the stadium.
A red carpet event was also organized to shine more spotlight on the athletes.
Media outlets explained that this is an attempt "to go beyond simply showcasing athletic performance, highlighting each athlete's individuality, and allowing fans to get closer to track and field stars."
Current Olympic men's 100m champion Noah Lyles appeared wearing a black velvet Yves Saint Laurent suit adorned with sparkling decorations. Mondo Duplantis, the world record holder in pole vault, wore a blue suit and sunglasses.
Dawn Harper-Nelson (USA), the 2008 Beijing Olympics women's 100m hurdles gold medalist who is also serving as a broadcaster for this event, welcomed the new initiatives.
Harper-Nelson positively evaluated the changes, stating, "We are bringing the attention we have long desired to track and field," and adding, "We demanded these changes, and now the time has come."
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*This content was translated by AI.
