The history of sprinting is often told through veterans who carry reputations built over years. Yet in 2025, the storyline is shifting. The fastest times of the season are no longer reserved for the most decorated names in track & field but are increasingly emerging from athletes barely out of school. In different corners of the globe, national federations are turning to teenagers to anchor their squads at the senior World Athletics Championships.

The phenomenon is not accidental. Coaches and selectors have measured how raw speed and composure under pressure have pushed certain young runners close to established professionals. What once looked like the distant future now appears on the entry lists for Tokyo. The sight of fresh faces on sprinting’s biggest stage signals a deliberate gamble

See Full Page