Bolt marvels at record prize money at World Athletics Ultimate Championship

Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint legend, could not hide his excitement at the unprecedented prize money in the history of athletics. Speaking ahead of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in 2026, Bolt said he would have been the first to sign up if he were still competing. Organized by World Athletics, the event promises a revolution in prize structure. Winners of individual events will receive $150,000 – the highest ever for an athletics meet. Relay teams will split $80,000. A sprinter winning both 100m and 200m could pocket up to $300,000 plus relay bonus. “This is what we dreamed of when we were competing. Back then, we ran for glory, but the prize money was so small,” Bolt told fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell. He believes the new rewards will attract the best talent and elevate the sport’s value. The Ultimate Championship features 16 top athletes per event, competing in straight finals with no preliminaries. This format is designed to eliminate downtime and create a more TV-friendly product. World Athletics president Sebastian Coe called it “a competition created with and by the fans, with and by the athletes.” However, concerns remain. Adding a major meet into a year that would traditionally be free between Olympics and World Championships risks athlete burnout and injury. World Athletics is betting on prize money to lure stars, but questions about recovery persist. Alongside Bolt, the event draws stars like Noah Lyles, Olympic 100m champion, and Mondo Duplantis, pole vault world-record holder. Notably, Duplantis will perform his original anthem “Gold” – signalling athletics’ expansion into entertainment. The championship is a laboratory for future changes. The inclusion of a mixed 4x100m relay – not a standard event – is a bold experiment. If successful, the model could be replicated. Yet risks are real. A 16-athlete field with big payouts may widen the wealth gap in athletics, concentrating money at the top while young talents lose exposure. Increased schedule density also raises injury risks, as sports medicine experts have warned. Bolt remains optimistic: “Athletics needs a boost like this. Money isn’t everything, but it shows respect for our sweat.” The Ultimate Championship will test Coe’s vision – whether athletics can compete with entertainment sports in the digital age. The answer comes in September 2026.