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Duplantis Dominates as Ultimate Championship Kicks Off with Fanfare

The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship has begun in Budapest, featuring a new format and significant prize money, with pole vault star Armand Duplantis securing the first title.

  • Armand Duplantis won the inaugural pole vault title and a $150,000 prize.
  • The Ultimate Championship features a condensed three-day format and a record $10m prize pot.
  • British athletes Keely Hodgkinson and Matthew Hudson-Smith qualified for Saturday's finals.

The World Athletics Ultimate Championship has launched in Budapest, presenting a new look for the sport with a bright pink sandpit and a pitch-black infield. Pole vault star Armand Duplantis took centre stage on the opening night, securing the inaugural title in his event.

Duplantis, a two-time Olympic champion, claimed a $150,000 (£110,000) share of the record $10m (£7.4m) prize pot. Although he was unable to clear 6.32m for a new world record, an engaging battle with Greek challenger Emmanouil Karalis provided a blockbuster finale to Friday's action.

The condensed three-day format aims to innovate the sport, with governing body World Athletics and its president Lord Coe hoping to shape its future. Friday's session featured eight finals over three hours, with victories for global stars including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Masai Russell.

Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson won her 800m semi-final, qualifying fastest for Saturday's showdown. Matthew Hudson-Smith also progressed to the men's 400m final, placing second in his semi-final. The United States' mixed 4x100m relay quartet were the first to lift a trophy, sharing $80,000 (£59,000) after their win, with Great Britain finishing third.

Why this matters: The Ultimate Championship represents World Athletics' effort to innovate and shape the future of the sport, potentially changing how athletics competitions are presented and experienced.

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