The World Athletics Ultimate Championships is all set to make its debut in 2026. And it is happening in the iconic city of Budapest. It promises to be a spectacle for the ages, with events happening over three evenings. The format packs 26 track and field events into three hours of pure adrenaline each night. But that is not the only thing setting it apart!

The prize money is the true point of differentiation! World Athletics Ultimate Championships have a $10 million prize pot, the largest ever in athletics. Each gold medalist will win $150,000! In the world of track and field, where athletes have been carrying the burden of unfortunate financial disadvantages, this is truly a game-changer. Yet, despite the grandeur that the Championships are bringing, there is some disappointment looming over this glamour!

Big prize money, but with some brutal cuts

There is no ignoring that $150,000 per winner is an enticing prize! So, what are the races set to happen? The Championships will bring in a lot of iconic races like the 100m and 200m, pole vaults, long and high jumps, plus crowd-favourites like the 400m, 800m, and 1500m. The list also includes relays (mixed 4x100m) and the women’s triple. Evidently, it is speed and thrill-packed into three days. But the cost of this streamlined format is rather steep for athletes!

Ryan Crouser, Brooke Andersen, Kenneth Rooks, and Grant Fisher, what do all of them have in common apart from being track and field athletes? The World Athletics Ultimate Championships will not feature any of them. Why is that? Well, to fit the three-night, three-hour-per-session schedule, organizers have chopped away several iconic events. The World Athletics Ultimate Championships is bidding adieu to discus, shotput, women’s hammer,10k, steeplechase, and even men’s triple jump!

These exclusions leave many athletes in the same unfortunate financial position. But what’s worse is, imagine being at the top of your game, only to find out there’s no room for you on the grandest stage. It is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when the slight prize pool adjustment might have been enough to support a few more events! Netizens have begun voicing their rage over the decisions!

The fandom is enraged by the questionable cuts!

Track and field fans are hurt and even more so enraged. “Welp…they not only cut the discus, steeple, and men’s triple, but also the shot put, 10K, and women’s hammer. This cuts deep!” wrote a fan. And they are not wrong! It’s true—the list of excluded events is as long as it is painful. It is an unfortunate moment as many athletes, due to the lack of space to participate, will have to continue to deal with the financial issues that come with being a track star. This disappointment was not unforeseen, with World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon even saying, “Of course, there will be athletes who are disappointed.” Well, then, why do it?

As another fan rightly puts it, “I can understand the dislike for the other three, but all are under WR threat, which makes it tough.” So what is the world record threat that the netizen has pointed out? Well, let’s take Ryan Crouser, for example. There is no doubt he is a legend. He, after all, holds the world record at 23.56m and the Olympic record at 23.30m. But unfortunately, Crouser will not have the opportunity to make another WR! But he’s not the only one.

Another name excluded is Brooke Andersen! Andersen came into the limelight during the 2019 Pan American Games when she won Silver. Now imagine, none of these stars can perform at the Championships! From what Ridgeon had to say, this was also a very capital-oriented decision. As Ridgeon himself puts it, “‘If you are going to create a new product….and all the advice we got is it needs to be fast-moving and time-limited, so there sadly isn’t time to do a heptathlon or decathlon.” Oops, that was harsh!

The fandom, however, remains unsatisfied with these responses. A fan in absolute disbelief went on to write, “Based on the $10,000,000 prize pot and $150K going to gold medalists, it didn’t seem like any events would be cut. This is surprising.” While the general sentiment is shock, World Athletics seems completely unfazed by the cuts!

Yet, according to World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, the tight schedule left no choice: “It is a matter of trying to piece together the timetable and see how the different bits work together for optimal excitement and drama in the evening.” Still, fans can’t help but wonder—do some events seem less important? Many perceive it that way. Niche sports fans are also enraged.

One fan went on to write, “Hammer must be in. Nothing leaves.” With names like Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers at their peak, it is hard to see why these events did not make the cut! This almost seems like a track-and-field pattern. Remember in 2019 when the Diamond League tried to cut 200m and triple jump? Perhaps, for the higher-ups, lessons are yet to be learned. Yes, the fandom demands answers!

Puzzled by the realities of the upcoming Championships, a fan went on to write, “I need to know the reason because that’s just so…” The answer, Ridgeon claims, is simple: it’s all about creating a showstopper. “The core philosophy of the event is it’s the best of the best,” he said. To many, this philosophy punches down on athletes who have poured themselves into these events. It sidelines the hard work that they put in. The world seems to agree to disagree that this is a great initiative.