SerpApi.Org
Olympic gold medalists Noah Lyles and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden appeared on the TODAY Show on Tuesday and discussed the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship from Sept. 11-13 in Budapest.
Lyles, the Olympic 100m gold medalist, and Jefferson-Wooden, who swept 100m, 200m and 4x100m golds at the 2025 World Championships, are in New York City for the USA Track and Field Outdoor and Para Championships from Thursday through Sunday (live on NBC Sports and Peacock).
This week, Lyles could face rival Kenny Bednarek in the 100m (final Friday at 7:53 p.m. ET, Peacock and NBCSN). On Sunday, he can become the first man to win a sixth U.S. title in the 200m (final at 5:39, NBC and Peacock).
Jefferson-Wooden eyes a repeat national title in the 200m (final Sunday at 5:47, NBC and Peacock).
Lyles and Jefferson-Wooden are both also committed to race the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship, the year's top international meet.
The Ultimate Championship will have fields of eight to 16 athletes per individual event based primarily on world rankings with no limits on athletes per country. Track events will have semifinals and finals. Field events will have strictly finals.
"We've had many championships — the Olympic championships, world championships — but unfortunately it's just a little watered down," Lyles said. "Only three athletes from each country is able to go (to the Olympics and, in most cases, worlds). We've said that's not going to do it anymore. We need all the fastest people, no matter what country they're from, to show up."
The Ultimate Championship will be a season-ending event held every two years, including in the 2028 Olympic year.
On Tuesday, World Athletics also announced new innovations for the Ultimate Championship.
"We've been used to seeing track and field on the Olympic stage or the World Championships stage, but this gives it a different feel," Jefferson-Wooden said.
