The World Indoor Championships in Nanjing: Key Athletes and Events to Watch

The World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, is set to commence on March 21-23, and it’s poised to be a record-breaking event. Here’s a comprehensive look at the lead-up, key athletes, and what to expect in the first major global athletics event for 2024.

World Indoor Championships Overview

The World Indoor Championships have been rescheduled three times since their original planned date in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Organizers in China are hosting a significant series of global athletics events, including the World Relays later this month and the World Championships in 2027. This series underscores the country’s commitment to athletics.

The Importance of Nanjing 2025

The last time China hosted a world championship, in Beijing in 2015, the host nation had their biggest medal haul to date. There are high hopes for a repeat performance in Nanjing, especially after a disappointing medal haul in Budapest in 2023.

Irish Athletes to Watch

Sarah Healy (Women’s 3000m)

Sarah Healy, Europe’s top athlete, offers a beacon of hope for Irish athletics. She will race in the 3000m and has very recently won the prestigious European gold medal for the same event. Known for her strong finishes and ability to handle chaotic races, Healy is ranked 4th in the group, and with Freweyni Hailu being the top-prepared athlete, this marks a fierce competition for the board

Following her win at the European Indoor Championships and straight back to training in Dubai, Healy’s transition period should be relatively straightforward, and fans can look forward to an exciting final on Saturday at 11:15 AM local time.

Come Saturday, she will be aiming for a position as high as possible to earn her medals,
and anything up to 5th would be a desirable result for Sarah.

Kate O’Connor (Women’s Pentathlon)

Kate O’Connor is another standout Irish athlete set to compete in Nanjing. After securing a European bronze medal at the Indoor Championships, O’Connor has returned home to train and prepare. She is the leader in the women’s pentathlon event and will open the competition in Nanjing with a heat starting at 02:13.

Sarah Lavin (Women’s 60m Hurdles)

Sarah Lavin is poised to make her third World indoor final in the 60m hurdles, after narrowly missing a European medal.

Lavin’s recent performances have shown promising improvement and with a time of 7.92 seconds on the booking, she is just under a tenth of a second away from breaking the 7.80 model time.

Andrew Coscoran (Men’s 1500m and 3000m)

Andrew Coscoran is set to double up in both the 1500m and 3000m events, following his impressive sixth-place finish in the 3000m at the European Championships. Coscoran will face off against notable athletes, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and is ranked fourth.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Women’s 1500m)

Sophie O’Sullivan will be competing in her first indoor 1500m championship. Sophie seems eager to do well, despite the hurdles of a busy European championship schedule

How to Watch

You can tune in to the action from Nanjing by visiting the Eurovision Sport website.

This will be the first of 4 major global events to be held in Chinese cites between 2025 and 2027

Schedule

Morning Session – Friday, March 21

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – 60m Hurdles – Heat 2/2 – 02:13 (10:13)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – High Jump – 02:50 (10:50)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – Shot Put – 05:15 (13:15)

Evening Session – Friday, March 21

• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Heat 3/3 – 10:55 (18:55)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – Long Jump – 10:42 (18:42)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Heat 2/4 – 11:29 (19:29)
• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – 800m – 13:08 (21:08)

Evening Session – Saturday, March 22

• Sarah Healy – Women’s 3000m – Final – 11:15 (19:15)
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 3000m – Final – 11:33 (19:33)
• James Gormley – Men’s 3000m – Final – 11:33 (19:33)

Morning Session – Sunday, March 23

• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Heats – 02:25 (10:25)

Evening Session – Sunday, March 23

• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Semi-Final – 11:35 (19:35) *
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 1500m – Final – 12:15 (20:15) *
• Sophie O’Sullivan – Women’s 1500m – Final – 12:28 (20:28) *
• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Final – 13:01 (21:01) *

*Subject to advancing (Local time in brackets)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the top athletes for Championship?

The four athletes to watch include Sarah, Kate, Sophie, Sarah, and Sophie.

Where will this be held

This will be held in Nanjing, China.

When is this Event

The event will be held from 21-23 March 2025

When will the Irish hear

The Irish athletes are expected to deliver a strong performance at the upcoming World Indoor Athletics Championships. Ireland hopes for quality family experience.