The long-standing format is that the eight best athletes after the three initial final rounds get to make three more throws or jumps. At this year's World Championship – both indoors and outdoors – the international athletics federation (World Athletics) introduced a gradual elimination.
+ Twelve finalists make three throws or jumps – then the two who are in last place are eliminated.
+ Ten finalists make a fourth throw/jump – then the two who are in last place are eliminated.
+ Eight finalists make a fifth throw/jump – then two more are eliminated.
+ Six finalists then compete in the sixth and final round.
"Increase the appeal"
The events affected are long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw. In 2025, the new final format will be applied at the indoor World Championship in China on March 21-23 (long jump, triple jump, shot put) and at the World Championship in Tokyo on September 13-21 (all mentioned events).
World Athletics' purpose is to "improve the spectator experience and increase the appeal of technical events. The new format aims to maintain the same number of total attempts (60) while the field gradually decreases, ensuring greater competition intensity and drama."
The reactions from some affected Swedish athletes vary.
"It feels like they want to change quite a few things in athletics, mainly for the spectators. But the more I think about it, the more it feels like a plus than a minus. It benefits those who are not guaranteed a top-8 placement, like me," says long jump and triple jumper Maja Åskag to friidrott.se.
"Can get messy"
Vanessa Kamga, Olympic fifth-place finisher in discus, sees some practical problems arising:
"I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid it can get messy, for the organizers, for the spectators, and for the athletes. The risk is that your rhythm gets disrupted and it becomes harder to time your routines before the throws."
