Ultimate Championship has trio of Irish athletes on track for their biggest pay-days

Sebastian Coe leant on his Sheffield roots when describing the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship as a “blast furnace” to help cast and shape the future of the sport. Although for the athletes invited to take part, the more pressing matter is winning some of the hefty prize money.

Coe was speaking on the eve of this weekend’s inaugural event in Budapest and in his last year as World Athletics president, a position he’s held since 2015, he also said the Ultimate Championship would provide “a compelling glimpse into the future and the potential of this sport … which at its best is untouchable”.