The 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China promised a thrilling showcase of elite competition. Fans tuned in, eager to witness world-class performances and high-stakes battles on the track. But as the women’s 400m event unfolded, the excitement quickly gave way to confusion.

Something felt off. In an event that usually boasts stacked heats and nail-biting semifinals, the sight of an almost empty lineup was jarring. With only a handful of athletes on the track, the atmosphere felt more like a time trial than a world championship race. As stunned viewers watched, social media erupted with disbelief. Was this really the pinnacle of global indoor competition?

Track and field analyst Owen captured the frustration perfectly in a viral tweet. “This women’s 400m is quite embarrassing. Straight semifinals and only three athletes in the first lineup. Not at all the athletes’ fault—but this is one of the problems with having an indoor champs in China during an already busy and long season.” His words struck a chord, highlighting a growing concern among fans and athletes alike. Scheduling an indoor championship in China, far from the sport’s major training hubs, during an already packed calendar seemed to be taking a toll.

On Wednesday, track and field analyst, Owen took to X to outline why so many top athletes have opted out. “It’s in China—many hours of traveling for a lot of the athletes,” he pointed out. While there may be some truth to this argument from a logistical standpoint, there are other reasons that could be attributed to this development.

The timing of the event itself is a major issue. Traditionally held in early March, this year’s World Indoors was pushed back to March 21-23, running dangerously close to the outdoor season. With the USA Outdoor Championships in July and the World Championships in Tokyo in September, many athletes are prioritizing their long-term goals. On top of that, the newly launched Grand Slam Track League kicks off in early April, drawing elite names like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, and Fred Kerley. Faced with the choice between an undersized indoor championship and high-stakes outdoor meets, many stars are making a business decision and it’s not in Nanjing’s favor.

Fans slam athletes for missing World Athletics Indoors

Frustrated fans wasted no time voicing their disappointment. “This women’s 400m is quite embarrassing,” one fan echoed, while another added, “What is wrong with athletes not showing up for even events such as World Championships? It’s just so frustrating.”  There were others who were more concerned about the long-term impact.

One fan warned, “There’s no way the sport is going to grow if athletes continue to duck indoor champs.” Without star power and full fields, the prestige of indoor track is fading fast. Beyond athlete participation, logistical challenges added another layer to the debate. “The most annoying part is after pulling out (to prepare for outdoors), they end up not making national teams. And if they manage to, they don’t get to finals (WC/Oly) 🤦🏾🤦🏾,” one fan noted, questioning the wisdom of skipping major races. But perhaps the biggest issue of all was the location itself, yet another weighed in. “It’s pretty expensive to get to China, let alone get a visa. Countries would rather invest money into the outdoor championships. Very expensive,” another fan wrote.

With no star athletes, the competition features fewer achievements, reaching breaking records while getting less worldwide recognition. But for now, there is a lot to look forward to at the World Indoors in Nanjing. Jakob Ingebrigtsen has already had a good start and Irish athlete Kat O’Connor has already created history by breaking the 19-year-old curse her country was battling with, winning silver, and setting personal bests in three out of five events. We are excited to find out what else this event has in store for the die-hard fans like us!