Usain Bolt Named “Legendary Athlete” of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship
To promote the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship, eight-time Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt has now joined forces with pole vault star Armand Duplantis. The Jamaican sports icon has been awarded the prestigious title of “Ultimate Legend” by World Athletics.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship will be held for the very first time between September 11–13, 2026, in Budapest, at the National Athletics Centre. The aim of the competition is to take the sport to a new level – just as Bolt did throughout his spectacular career. He broke numerous sprinting records, won 19 senior world-level gold medals, and gave the sport countless iconic moments – he still holds the world records in the 100m and 200m.
Bolt is an iconic athlete who has made history multiple times and remains an inseparable part of athletics. It is no coincidence that he has been chosen as the one and only “Ultimate Legend.” With the involvement of the sprinting phenomenon, the International Athletics Federation is taking the promotion of the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship to the next level.
Dr. Ádám Schmidt, State Secretary for Sport, commented on the collaboration:
“Just like with other major international sports events, one of our main goals with the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is that, by watching the world’s best athletes compete live, as many of our compatriots as possible gain unforgettable sports experiences that inspire them to commit to regular physical activity themselves. It is a great joy and honor for us that not only on the track but also beyond it, the best of the best will come to us. Usain Bolt is a special figure in the athletics family, someone who can connect with young people everywhere. I trust that with his help, the Ultimate Championship will be as successful and popular as the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.”
At the event, the world’s best athletes will face off to determine who will be crowned the “Ultimate Champion.”
Of course, Bolt is not the only face of the competition: in August, World Athletics announced that the event’s “Ultimate Star” would be Armand Duplantis, the world record holder in pole vault, who set his latest record in Budapest at the National Athletics Centre during the 2025 Gyulai István Memorial.
This is the first time Bolt has taken on such a role: he now wishes to use his passion and status within the sport to promote the event worldwide.
“The idea of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship is brilliant: the best of the best competing against each other – the biggest stars, even bigger personalities, no excuses – and in the end, we find out who the Ultimate Champion is. All I can say is, I would have loved to compete in such a crowd-pulling event,” said Bolt.
He added:
“It’s an honor for me to help spread the word about the event as the Ultimate Legend, since athletics is still a big part of my life. When I was competing, I saw many changes in the sport, and it’s important that athletics keeps evolving. This new championship is a great opportunity to showcase and enhance the value of the sport and its incredible stars.”
World and Olympic champions will clash with Wanda Diamond League winners and the season’s top athletes across three intense days of competition at the National Athletics Centre, September 11–13, 2026.
Twenty-six athletes have already qualified automatically as reigning Olympic champions, and more will soon join the list: winners of the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships – where Bolt himself will also be present – will also secure automatic entry.
“The title of Ultimate Legend is a perfect fit for one of the true icons of our sport,” said Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics. Speaking about Bolt, he added:
“Usain transcends athletics. He continues to raise the profile of the sport, inspire athletes worldwide, and demonstrate what is possible – both on and off the track. As we look ahead – exploring new ways to showcase athletics and discover new stars – it’s also important to look back and honor the pioneers who paved the way and captured the imagination of generations of athletics fans.”
Bolt will play an active role in promoting the World Athletics Ultimate Championship. He will take part in the one-year countdown event on Thursday, September 11, 2025, during the upcoming Tokyo World Athletics Championships. As a special guest of World Athletics, Bolt will also attend several evening competitions at Japan’s National Stadium.
The World Athletics Ultimate Championship was created to ensure that each athletics season concludes with a major, truly global championship that is significant for athletes, fans, media, and broadcasters alike. The first edition in 2026 is being organized by the National Event Management Agency, World Athletics, and the Hungarian Athletics Association.