Keely Hodgkinson will not receive a medal even if she wins at the inaugural Ultimate Championship in Budapest next month, as World Athletics' new biennial track and field event replaces traditional medals with participation tokens.
The first Ultimate Championship, a biennial track and field event launched by World Athletics, is scheduled for even-numbered years, bridging the gap between traditional World Athletics Championships and the Summer Olympics. It is designed as a high-stakes conclusion to the outdoor season and will be held in Budapest from 11 to 13 September.
Potential 800m showdown
The event could feature a women's 800m clash of titans including Hodgkinson, Commonwealth champion Georgia Hunter Bell, European champion Audrey Werro, world champion Lilian Odira and Femke Broeders-Bol, the Dutch athlete who has recently transitioned from the 400m hurdles.
Hunter Bell has disclosed that discussions have taken place about assembling this formidable quintet for an 800m face-off in the Hungarian capital, where a hefty £110,000 prize awaits the victor.
She told the Guardian: "I can't wait for that. Hopefully the big five will come together soon. We've been talking after the races. 'When are you racing? You should get into this one.' There's a good competitive spirit."
Tokens instead of medals
Despite several intriguing innovations being introduced for the event, there will be no medals on offer. Instead, competing athletes will be awarded tokens, while the winner of each discipline will claim a trophy "designed to connect with their participation token to form a complete piece."
Rather than lengthy qualifying rounds featuring large fields, individual track disciplines are limited to 16 athletes, field events to eight and relays to eight teams. Participants include current Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League victors and highest-ranked competitors.
Format and prize fund
Crafted specifically for television and younger viewers, each session will run for under three hours. It will concentrate on 28 core events, excluding longer distance races such as the 10,000m and the steeplechase.
Additional innovations feature a pre-competition red-carpet occasion, live musical performances during session warm-ups and "centre court style interviews" screened in the venue and on television.
The overall prize pot totals £7.3 million, establishing it as the most financially rewarding competition in athletics history. The event will be shown in the UK by the BBC, ensuring it reaches the broadest possible viewership.
