Kenyan athlete Lilian Odirova secured the gold medal in the women’s 800-meter race at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, held in Tokyo, marking a historic ‌moment after 42 years. Her winning time of ⁢1:54.62 minutes not only earned her ⁤the title but also shattered the championship record previously ​held by Jarmila Kratochvílová of​ Czechoslovakia.

A New Championship Best

odirova’s performance ranks as the eighth-fastest 800m time in history,surpassing Kratochvílová’s longstanding championship record by⁣ a mere six hundredths ⁣of a second. Kratochvílová’s overall world record, set in 1983 at 1:53.28, remains unbroken, but Odirova’s run demonstrates‌ a new generation of ⁣talent pushing the boundaries of ​the event.

Dramatic Finish in Tokyo

The race unfolded with ⁤a fast pace ‍set ‌by Keely Hodgkinson, the leading⁢ athlete⁣ in this year’s rankings. Tho, Hodgkinson couldn’t maintain ‍her lead, ultimately finishing with the silver ‍medal. Great ⁢Britain’s ⁣Georgia Hunter Bell secured‌ the bronze ⁤with a⁤ personal best time of 1:54.90,closely followed by the Olympic champion from⁤ Paris,who finished in 1:54.91.

Odirova’s Triumph adn Dedication

“I am vrey happy to be the world champion; ‌it has been⁣ a long journey,” Odirova stated following her​ victory, as reported by Agence France-Presse. She noted the exceptionally fast pace​ of the first​ round,​ anticipating a ‍record-breaking competition. ‌ Odirova dedicated her win to her⁢ two sons, aged four and two, citing them as her primary motivation.