In a landmark decision, World Athletics announced it will become the first international federation to award prize money at an Olympic Games, financially rewarding athletes for achieving the pinnacle of sporting success, starting at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

A total prize pot of US$2.4 million has been ring fenced from the International Olympic Committee’s revenue share allocation, which is received by World Athletics every four years. This will be used to reward athletes who win a gold medal in each of the 48 athletics events in Paris with US$50,000.

This initiative by World Athletics also includes a firm commitment to extend the prize money at a tiered level, to Olympic silver and bronze medal winners at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

When sharing details of the decision, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: “The introduction of prize money for Olympic gold medallists is a pivotal moment for World Athletics and the sport of athletics as a whole, underscoring our commitment to empowering the athletes and recognising the critical role they play in the success of any Olympic Games.

“This is the continuation of a journey we started back in 2015, which saw all the money World Athletics receives from the International Olympic Committee for the Olympic Games go directly back into our sport.

The payment of prize money will depend upon the World Athletics ratification process, including athletes undergoing and clearing the usual anti-doping procedures. Each individual Olympic champion will receive US$50,000. Relay teams will receive the same amount, to be shared among the team.

Likina Amebaw, Jemal Yimer, Hagos Gebrhiwet and Caroline Nyaga were among the winners as athletes descended on Paris for the Festival of Running ASICS Speed Race 5km and 10km events. Competition took place on an iconic 2.5km loop that started and finished at Palais-Royal in the shadow of the Louvre.

Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw and Kenya’s Loice Chemnung both dipped under 30 minutes in the women’s 10km, with Amebaw clocking a PB of 29:56 to win and Chemnung finishing just one second behind her. They were joined by Kenya’s Miriam Chebet during the first half of the race but Chebet was unable to maintain the pace and finished third in 30:41.

Finishing fourth, Nadia Battocletti improved her own Italian record to 31:19.

She also voiced her ambition to return to Paris to compete in the No.1 Olympic sport at the Games in August.

“I have got to work hard, and I hope I will be at the Olympic Games,” she said. “Now I will get ready for the track competition.”

Less than three weeks after his Seoul Marathon win in a PB of 2:06:08, Ethiopia’s Yimer matched his 10km best, running 27:43 to win the men’s race, also by one second.

Kenya’s Hillary Kipkoech was runner-up in 27:44 and his compatriot Vincent Kibet was third in 27:48.

Ethiopia’s multiple world and Olympic 5000m medallist Gebrhiwet was racing a couple of weeks out from his African Games 5000m victory, which followed a 5km win in the rain at the Podium Festival in Leicester, UK. In Paris he won the men’s 5km in 13:24 ahead of Mohamed Ismael (13:32) and Adel Mechaal (13:34).

Kenya’s Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei and Ethiopia’s Tigist Gebeyahu Memuye were the winners at the Wizz Air Milano Marathon – a World Athletics Label road race.

Tigist Memunye won the women’s race in 2:26:32 while Kipkosgei crossed the finishing line in 2:07:12 improving his PB by 34 seconds.. The race was held on a new loop course, with the start and finish in Piazza del Duomo.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Fantu Gelasa Shugi and Kuftu Dadiso Tahir took an early lead and went through 10km in 33:27 with a 23-second margin over Memunye. Shugi surged away at 18km and reached the half-way mark in 1:10:34 with a gap of 26 seconds over Dadiso, while Memunye was a further 51 seconds adrift.

Shugi built a gap of almost two minutes over Memunye and reached 30km in 1:40:59, but her effort took its toll in the final stages of the race.

Sophy Jepchirchir from Kenya moved up into third, overtaking Dadiso at 30km. Then Memunye caught up Shugi at 39km and broke away from her compatriot in the final two kilometres before crossing the finish line in 2:26:32.

Jepchirchir moved past Shugi in the closing stages to finish second in a PB of 2:27:12. Shugi was third in 2:30:52.

“The win was totally unexpected,” said Memuye, who trains alongside world record-holder Tigist Assefa and world champion Amane Beriso. “I’m very happy with my performance. This is my come-back after a long break due to injury.”

In the men’s race, a large lead pack went through 10km in 29:57 and the half-way mark in 1:03:42.

Kwemoi surged away at 34km and held the lead until 37km when Kipkosgei caught him. Kipkosgei broke away from Kwemoi at 39km and held on to win in 2:07:12.

Kipchumba moved past Kwemoi at 40km to finish second in 2:07:36 with Kwemoi taking third place in 2:07:52.

Mestawut Fikir excelled on her debut at the distance by winning the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon in 2:20:45, while compatriot Mulugeta Uma made it an Ethiopian double by taking the men’s title in 2:05:33 at the World Athletics Elite Label road race.

In a close finish, Fikir won by three seconds from fellow Ethiopian Enatnesh Tirusew, who was also making her marathon debut. Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot, the 2016 Olympic 5000m champion and four-time world champion on the track, was third in 2:21:46 in what was the 40-year-old’s first marathon in five years.

Uma won the men’s race by 15 seconds from Kenya’s Titus Kipruto. Elisha Rotich, the course record-holder and 2021 winner, was third this time in 2:06:54.

By 30km, Cheruiyot had fallen about 20 seconds behind the leaders with Tusa still pushing the pace out in front. But the long-time leader started to fade a few kilometres later as Fikir and Tirusew made a break.

The Ethiopian duo continued to run side by side through the closing kilometres while Cheruiyot rallied back and made her way up into third place. In the final push, Fikir broke away from her compatriot to win in 2; 20:45, while Tirusew claimed second place in 2:20:48. Cheruiyot crossed the line 58 seconds later.

The men’s race played out in similar fashion, the large lead pack going through 10km in 29:08 and half way in 1:02:09, at which point they were on track to challenge Rotich’s course record of 2:04:21.

The pack became strung out over the course of the next 10 kilometres with Kipruto leading them through 30km in 1:28:27, closing followed by Uma and his fellow Ethiopians Deso Gelmisa and Dejane Megersa.

Uma then started to pick up the pace and overtook Kipruto with just a few kilometres to go. Further back, Rotich was making his way through the field.

Uma continued to extend his lead over Kipruto in the closing stages and he went on to win in a PB of 2:05:33, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Kipruto. Rotich passed a fading Kipkemboi to take third in 2:06:54.