World Athletics has officially announced Australian hurdling legend Sally Pearson and American triple jump icon Christian Taylor as athlete ambassadors for the upcoming World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, set to take place from 13-21 September in Japan.
With just two months remaining before the 20th edition of the prestigious global event, Pearson and Taylor, who share a combined six World Championships titles, will play key roles in promoting and celebrating the championships while supporting the next generation of athletics stars.
For Pearson, the appointment is particularly nostalgic. It was in Japan where her World Championships journey began, reaching the semifinals in both the 100m and 100m hurdles at the 2007 Osaka edition. Earlier, as a 16-year-old, she had been part of Australia’s 4x100m relay team at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.
The Australian went on to win two world 100m hurdles titles in Daegu (2011) and London (2017), as well as a world silver in 2013. She also boasts an Olympic gold medal from 2012 and a silver from 2008. Reflecting on her career, Pearson shared to World Athletics.
“I remember, as a 16-year-old, racing at my first World Championships way back in 2003 in Paris. That’s when I decided I wanted that as my career. Being selected as an athlete ambassador is a huge honour. This sport is so important to me, and I can’t wait to see you all there in Tokyo in September.”
Similarly, Christian Taylor’s ascent on the global stage began at the World U18 Championships in Ostrava in 2007, where he claimed triple jump gold and long jump bronze. His senior debut was equally impressive, capturing triple jump gold at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.
Taylor would go on to amass four World Championships triple jump titles (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019), making him the most decorated athlete in the event’s history. He also secured Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016. His personal best of 18.21m, achieved at the 2015 Beijing Worlds, remains the North American record and ranks him second on the all-time world list, just eight centimetres shy of Jonathan Edwards’ 1995 world record.
Speaking on his ambassadorial role, Taylor expressed his excitement.
“I am very excited to announce that I have been selected as one of the World Athletics athlete ambassadors for the World Championships in Tokyo, my absolute favourite city in the world. One of my favourite World Championships experiences has to be my first, because I went there with everything to gain and nothing to lose, and I came out with a world title. I just wish the athletes nothing but the absolute best.”
As the countdown continues to Tokyo 25, Pearson and Taylor’s involvement as ambassadors is set to add inspiration and energy to what promises to be nine days of thrilling athletics action in Japan.