World Athletics Championships: All you need to know ahead of this weekend

The biggest event in the athletics calendar gets underway this weekend, as Irish athletes prepare for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The last time Irish athletes were in Japan, the Olympics in 2021 were the focus, with stadiums far from full due to the pandemic.

However, four years later, expect crowds in their thousands from Saturday onwards.

With 2,202 athletes qualified, from 198 countries, it is unquestionably the largest sporting event in the world this year.

Here is all you need to know ahead of the weekend.

How many Irish athletes are involved?

There will be 28 athletes from Ireland hoping to come back home with a medal. including 22 individuals and six more relay panellists, making it the biggets Irish team in history.

There is unfortunately two big names missing in Rhasidat Adeleke and Ciara Mageean. Adeleke has struggled this season, and was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Having missed the Olympics through injury, Mageean was already ruled out of the World Championships. Back in July, Mageean announced she had undergone treatment for cancer.

What events are Irish athletes involved in?

Sarah Healy (Women’s 1500m)Laura Nicholson (Women’s 1500m)

Mark English (Men’s 800m)

Sarah Lavin (Women’s 100m Hurdles)

Sophie O’Sullivan (Women’s 1500m)

Laura Nicholson

Sharlene Mawdsley (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Cathal Doyle (Men’s 1500m)

Cian McPhillips (Men’s 800m)

Andrew Coscoran (Men’s 1,500m & 5,000m)

Kate O’Connor (Women’s Heptathlon)

Nicola Tuthill (Women’s Hammer Throw)

Brian Fay (Men’s 5,000m)

Darragh McElhinney (Men’s 5,000m)

Efrem Gidey (Men’s 10,000m)

David Kenny (Men’s 20km Race Walk)

Oisin Lane (Men’s 35km Race Walk)

Eric Favors (Men’s Shot Put)

Fionnuala McCormack (Women’s Marathon)

Hiko Tonosa (Men’s Marathon)

Peter Lynch (Men’s Marathon)

Sophie Becker (Women’s 400m, Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Rachel McCann (Mixed 4x400m Relay & Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Jack Raftery (Mixed 4x400m Relay)

Conor Kelly (ixed 4x400m Relay)

Cillín Greene (Mixed 4x400m Relay)

Cliodhna Manning (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Michelle Duggan (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

Jenna Breen (Women’s 4x400m Relay)

*Erin Friel (Women’s 4x400m Relay – Non travelling reserve)

*Ciaran Carthy (Mixed 4x400m Relay – Non travelling reserve)

What is Ireland's medal hopes?

Sarah Healy and Mark English have both had excellent seasons in the 1500 and 800 meters.

Healy won gold earlier this year in the Indoor athletics championships, and has had her most consistent year to date.

Should Healy make the final, anything could happen, in what has been a successful 2025.

English has broken the Irish 800m record three times, lowering it to 1:43.37, but the 800m has never been stronger.

Kate O'Connor has also had an exceptional season, and will back herself to be in contention in the heptathlon.

Her Irish record of 6,487 points, set when winning gold at the World University Games in July, ranks her fifth best in 2025.

How can I watch the action?

Live coverage will be shown on RTÉ and the RTÉ player.

When will the Irish athletes be in action?

With Japan eight hours ahead of Ireland, there will be some early mornings ahead for fans hoping to watch.

Saturday – Morning Session

12am Oisín Lane – Men’s 35km Race Walk

2.55am Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Qualification

3.55am Mixed 4x400m Relay – Heats

Saturday – Evening Session

11.50am Sarah Healy, Sophie O’Sullivan, Laura Nicholson – Women’s 1,500m – Heats

1.10pm Eric Favors – Men’s Shot Put – Final *

2.20pm Mixed 4x400m Relay – Final *

Sunday – Morning Session

12am Fionnuala McCormack – Women’s Marathon

1am Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw – Qualification

1.35am Andrew Coscoran, Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m – Heats

3.28am Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Heats

Sunday – Evening Session

11.25am Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m

1.05pm Healy, O’Sullivan, Nicholason – Women’s 1500m – Semi-finals *

1.30pm Efrem Gidey – Men’s 10,000m – Final

Monday – Morning Session

12am Peter Lynch, Hiko Tonosa – Men’s Marathon

Evening Session

1pm Nicola Tuthill – Women’s Hammer Throw Final *

1.05pm Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles SF*

1.30pm Andrew Coscoran, Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m SF*

2.20pm Sarah Lavin – Women’s 100m Hurdles – Final*

Tuesday – Evening Session

11.35am Mark English, Cian McPhillips – Men’s 800m Heats

1.05pm Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m SF *

2.05pm Sarah Healy, Sophie O’Sullivan, Laura Nicholson – Women’s 1500m Final *

Wednesday – Evening Session

2.20pm Andrew Coscoran, Cathal Doyle – Men’s 1500m Final*

Thursday – Evening Session

1.45pm Mark English, Cian McPhilips– Men’s 800m SF* .24pm Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker – Women’s 400m –Final *

Friday – Evening Session

9.33am Kate O’Connor – 100m Hurdles – Women’s Heptathlon

10.20am Kate O’Connor – High Jump – Women’s Heptathlon

12.05pm Brian Fay, Andrew Coscoran, Darragh McElhinney – Men’s 5000m – Heats

12.30pm Kate O’Connor – Shot Put – Women’s Heptathlon

1.38pm Kate O’Connor – 200m – Women’s Heptathlon

Saturday, September 20th – Morning Session

1.50am David Kenny – Men’s 20km Race Walk

3.30am Kate O’Connor – Long Jump – Women’s Heptathlon

Evening Session

11am Kate O’Connor – Javelin – Women’s Heptathlon

12pm Women’s 4x400m Relay – Heats

1.11pm Kate O’Connor – 800m – Women’s Heptathlon

2.22pm Mark English, Cian McPhillips – Men’s 800m Final *

Sunday, September 21st – Evening Session

11.50am Brian Fay, Andrew Coscoran, Darragh McElhinney – Men’s 5000m Final*

12.40pm Women’s 4x400m Relay – Final*