World Athletics has unveiled a distinctive trophy design for the winners of the inaugural World Ultimate Championship, with champions set to receive bespoke trophies instead of traditional medals.
The innovative awards are designed to reflect the significance of the new global athletics competition and celebrate the athletes who will make history as the first-ever Ultimate Champions.
According to World Athletics, the trophies draw inspiration from the championship’s star logo and the central theme of “carving your name in history.”
The concept is intended to give the winners a lasting symbol of their achievement while marking their place in the history of the competition.
In another unique feature, every athlete competing at the championship will receive a personalised bracelet bearing their name.
The bracelet is an integral part of the trophy concept and can be connected to the champion’s trophy, creating a complete piece that links the individual athlete to the wider championship experience.
Champions to take trophies through the crowd
The presentation ceremony will also offer a departure from the traditional medal podium routine.
After winning their respective events, the Ultimate Champions will collect their trophies directly from the plinth at the event site before embarking on a lap of honour along the Champion’s Pathway.
The pathway will take the newly crowned champions through the crowd, allowing fans to celebrate the athletes and witness the presentation of the unique awards up close.
The concept is designed to make the victory celebrations more interactive and memorable, putting the athletes and spectators at the heart of the championship experience.
Only Ultimate Champions will leave with trophies
World Athletics has emphasised the exclusivity of the new awards.
The Ultimate Champions will be the only athletes leaving Budapest with the bespoke trophies, giving the prizes additional significance as symbols of the inaugural edition of the competition.
The introduction of the trophies adds another layer of distinction to the World Ultimate Championship, which is being positioned as a major new event on the global athletics calendar.
With the combination of the bespoke trophy, personalised bracelet and Champion’s Pathway celebration, World Athletics is seeking to create a championship experience that goes beyond the traditional medal ceremony.
For the athletes who emerge victorious in Budapest, the trophy will represent more than a competition prize—it will serve as a permanent reminder that they were the first athletes to carve their names into the history of the World Ultimate Championship.
