As in recent years, the qualification system for the World Championships is based on the qualification limits and world statistics rankings.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (WA) published the performance limits for the Tokyo 2025 World Championships after the Paris Olympics. According to a press release released by WA the goal is that about 50 percent of the athletes get a place in the competition by breaking the qualification limit.
As in recent years, the qualification system for the World Championships is based on the qualification limits and world statistics rankings. The qualifying limits have been tightened compared to the limits of the Paris Olympics, especially in running sports.
The organizers want to avoid a situation where a larger number of athletes break the qualifying limit than is intended to enter the competition.
In the women’s category, no less than nine races have qualification limits that are stricter than the result limit of the Paris Olympics. In the men’s series, the target times for the limits have increased by six distances.
For example, in the men’s marathon, the qualifying limit has been tightened by one minute and 40 seconds – from the time of 2.08.10 to 2.06.30. In the men’s 5,000 meter run, the qualifying limit has been tightened by four seconds.
In the women’s marathon, the qualifying line is more than three minutes lower. At the Paris Olympics the limit was 2:26:50 and next summer in Tokyo 2:23:30.
As far as field sports are concerned, the qualifying limits are closer than usual. For example, in the women’s pole vault, the qualification limit for the Tokyo World Championships is 473, which is the same as for the Paris Olympics. In women’s moukari, the limit is also the same, 74 meters.
At the World Athletics Championships in Budapest 2023, the women’s pole vault qualifying limit was 471 meters and the shot put 73.60 meters.
One of the reasons for the tighter qualification limits is that the International Association of Athletics Federations encourages athletes to participate in international competitions for as long as possible throughout the qualification window.
The athletics world championships will be contested in Tokyo from the 13th to the 19th. September 2025.