The World Athletics Championships are currently taking place in Tokyo, Japan, with the likes of Armand Duplantis and Faith Kipyegon already making history
BBC commentator Andrew Cotter has branded the hotel he’s staying at in Tokyo whilst covering the World Athletics Championships as “seedy.” Over 300,000 spectators descended upon the Japan National Stadium during the opening four days of the major event, and many more are anticipated to witness the globe’s elite athletes compete.
Fans have already seen another triumphant world record bid from pole-vaulting sensation Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, alongside Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon claiming her fourth 1500m victory. Whilst such elite performers will presumably be staying in upmarket districts of the city, BBC presenter Cotter’s residence has received a damning assessment.
“I am in Japan, Tokyo, which is the capital of Japan and a very big city. I’m actually at my hotel, and it’s in a very seedy area of Tokyo,” Cotter told The Chipping Forecast podcast.
“All I’ll say is walking in in the morning, because we head in at six o’clock in the morning, the drunks are all weaving around, and they really do weave. It’s extraordinary.
“There are various places… My neck and back are totally tightened up, and I’ve wanted to get a massage to loosen them up. However, I have decided that it’s best not to go to the massage places!”
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Despite Cotter’s damning criticisms of the country, Japan has staged an already historic championship. On day three of the contest, thousands of supporters witnessed Sweden’s Duplantis shatter a world record in the men’s pole vault.
The 25-year-old, born in America to a Swedish mother, first claimed the record in 2020, when he surpassed Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie’s 6.16m mark with a 6.17m clearance.
Since then, he hasn’t looked back, and at the Paris Olympics, he shattered the record for the ninth time, elevating it to a remarkable 6.25m.
Duplantis hasn’t stopped there, though. His triumphant 6.30m leap in Tokyo means he has smashed the world record 14 times. Following his third world title in four years, he told the crowd: “It’s better than I could have imagined.
“To give you guys this world record is amazing. For the past two weeks, I really enjoyed being in Tokyo. I feel the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record.
“That was my mentality. I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me. I am glad it all worked out.”
In the women’s competition, it was another heartbreak for Great Britain’s Molly Caudery, who sustained an injury during an overnight session. The 2024 world indoor champion was forced to pull out of the competition.
While Caudery won’t be delivering Great Britain their first medal of the championships, Jake Wightman produced a surprise by clinching silver in the men’s 1500m final. Favourite Josh Kerr sadly pulled up injured, allowing Wightman to push through and lead for most of the race before Issac Nader of Portugal stole the gold.
The women’s final took place on Tuesday, and Kenya’s Kipyegon reigned supreme as anticipated, claiming another world title to complement her three Olympic golds and world record.
