World Athletics Indoor Championships, Kujawsko‑Pomorska Arena, Toruń – 20-22 March 2026
Tom Walsh earned a seventh world indoor medal winning gold in the men’s shot put.
The 34-year-old – who also won world indoor titles in 2016, 2018 and 2025 – now owns more world indoor medals than any male athlete in history.
USA’s Jordan Geist took an early lead with his opening effort of 21.64m. He followed it with several big throws, some close to 22 metres, but they were fouls. Walsh, meanwhile, improved steadily throughout the competition, opening with 20.59m before improving to 21.21m in round two and 21.28m in round four.
The defending champion took the lead in round five with his effort of 21.66m. USA’s Roger Steen produced his best mark in the final round, consolidating his third place with 21.49m, then Geist rounded out his series with 21.38m.
With the title secured, Walsh saved his best for last and hurled his shot out to a season’s best of 21.82m.
“My whole career started in Poland with bronze at the 2014 world indoors in Sopot,” said Walsh, who also won a bronze in 2014 and 2022 and a silver in 2024 to go with his four golds.
“If you told me then that I would still be here winning medals at every edition since then I would tell you were dreaming.
“It is great to see I can still do it against the younger guys.”
Walsh, who was also crowned world outdoor champion in London in 2017, added: “My goal for today was to throw 22m and win a medal. I did not quite get to 22 but I won gold so it is pretty good.
“I was glad I was able to build things up as the competition went on. Throwing last when you know you have won sometimes saps the energy out of you but, at other times, it can give you a boost, and that happened for me today.”
Imogen Ayris added a second medal on the day for New Zealand with bronze in the women’s pole vault.
Ayris was among nine women, including Eliza McCartney to clear 4.70m – record depth for an indoor competition, and a standard only previously achieved at the 2024 Olympics.
The bar moved to 4.80m and Tina Sutej and Molly Caudery were over on their first attempts. The seven other women who remained in the contest at that height were unsuccessful in their attempts to clear it, and it meant that bronze was shared by Switzerland’s Angelica Moser, Czechia’s Amalie Svabikova and Ayris.
New Zealand indoor records were set by Tiaan Whelpton in the 60 metres, and Lex Revell-Lewis in the 400m.