Photos of top track and field athletes chasing $150K prizes at the Ultimate Championship

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Photos of top track and field athletes chasing $150K prizes at the Ultimate Championship

2026-09-14 01:33 Last Updated At：01:41

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The world’s top track and field athletes are competing in Hungary over three nights, with 28 events and $150,000 for each winner. The new Ultimate Championship is set to return every two years.

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Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine clears the bar during the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's 100 meters final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Angelina Topic, of Serbia, center left, and Eleanor Patterson, of Australia, wait their turn to make an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, makes an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Masai Russell, of the United States, second right, wins a women's 100 meters hurdles semifinal ahead of Nadine Visser, of the Netherlands, left, and Ackera Nugent, of Jamaica, who falls during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Keely Hodgkinson, of Britain, right, assists Veronica Vancardo, of Switzerland, who fell in a women's 800 meters semifinal during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Jazmin Sawyers, of Britain, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Claire Bryant, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Competitors line up to start the women's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Klaudia Kazimierska, of Poland, reacts after winning the women's 1,500 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, center, races before winning the men's 5,000 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, makes an attempt in the men's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sandi Morris, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's pole vault final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Athletes compete in the mixed 4 X 100 meters relay final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, celebrates with the audience after winning the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

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Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine clears the bar during the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's 100 meters final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Angelina Topic, of Serbia, center left, and Eleanor Patterson, of Australia, wait their turn to make an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, makes an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Masai Russell, of the United States, second right, wins a women's 100 meters hurdles semifinal ahead of Nadine Visser, of the Netherlands, left, and Ackera Nugent, of Jamaica, who falls during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Keely Hodgkinson, of Britain, right, assists Veronica Vancardo, of Switzerland, who fell in a women's 800 meters semifinal during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Jazmin Sawyers, of Britain, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Claire Bryant, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Competitors line up to start the women's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Klaudia Kazimierska, of Poland, reacts after winning the women's 1,500 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, center, races before winning the men's 5,000 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, makes an attempt in the men's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sandi Morris, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's pole vault final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Athletes compete in the mixed 4 X 100 meters relay final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, celebrates with the audience after winning the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Spain defeats host Germany again to win bronze at women's FIBA World Cup

BERLIN (AP) — Iyana Martín led Spain to the bronze medal at the women’s FIBA World Cup on Sunday with an 81-58 win over host Germany.

The 20-year-old Martín scored 22 points to give Spain, which didn't qualify for the last World Cup, its third third-place finish in the tournament after 2010 and 2018.

The Spanish players looked sharper and faster throughout, with turnovers again an issue for Germany after the hosts had 25 in their semifinal defeat to France on Saturday. Germany had six in the first quarter alone and finished with 18 against Spain.

Frieda Bühner wiped away tears while the Spanish players hugged and danced in celebration at Berlin Arena.

“We have to take the pain with us to be better as individual players and as a team,” Leonie Fiebich said as she fought tears while talking to reporters and reflecting on the importance of the game.

“It's unique, it happens only once in a career. I'm super thankful that we could be part of it, the team, the staff, the organization, everything all around it. It was one of the coolest experiences ever. I'll be thinking of it for a long time,” Fiebich said

Germany had been looking for its first medal in the tournament on its second appearance as a unified country including its last time as host in 1998. East Germany finished fourth at the 1967 tournament.

It was Spain’s second victory over Germany after defeating the hosts by 30 points in their opening game – Spain's biggest win over a European team and Germany's heaviest defeat in the competition.

Buoyed by enthusiastic home support, Germany recovered from its opening loss with increasingly impressive wins over Japan, Mali, South Korea and European champion Belgium. Germany was the first team in the tournament to keep France below 90 points with an 86-64 defeat in their semifinal.

“The growth has been very, very positive," said Germany coach Olaf Lange, who had hailed German basketball's "best day” after the win over Belgium.

“We’ve made good progress. Now we have to keep working on ourselves and use this as motivation for the future. We have EuroBasket coming up next year – we have to qualify first – and then the 2028 Olympics. We have to keep going. That’s our motto – keep going – and it doesn’t change today,” Lange said.

Spain was dealt a shock defeat by Mali in its second game but beat Japan to top the group, then defeated Australia in the quarterfinals before a battling 76-66 loss to the United States in their semifinal.

The U.S. was bidding for its fifth straight title when it played France in the final later Sunday.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Photos of top track and field athletes chasing $150K prizes at the Ultimate Championship

Photos of top track and field athletes chasing $150K prizes at the Ultimate Championship

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine clears the bar during the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's 100 meters final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Angelina Topic, of Serbia, center left, and Eleanor Patterson, of Australia, wait their turn to make an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, makes an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Keely Hodgkinson, of Britain, right, assists Veronica Vancardo, of Switzerland, who fell in a women's 800 meters semifinal during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Jazmin Sawyers, of Britain, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Claire Bryant, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Competitors line up to start the women's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Klaudia Kazimierska, of Poland, reacts after winning the women's 1,500 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, center, races before winning the men's 5,000 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, makes an attempt in the men's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sandi Morris, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's pole vault final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Athletes compete in the mixed 4 X 100 meters relay final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, celebrates with the audience after winning the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine clears the bar during the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's 100 meters final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Angelina Topic, of Serbia, center left, and Eleanor Patterson, of Australia, wait their turn to make an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Yaroslava Mahuchikh, of Ukraine, makes an attempt in the women's high jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Keely Hodgkinson, of Britain, right, assists Veronica Vancardo, of Switzerland, who fell in a women's 800 meters semifinal during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Jazmin Sawyers, of Britain, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Claire Bryant, of the United States, makes an attempt in the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Competitors line up to start the women's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Klaudia Kazimierska, of Poland, reacts after winning the women's 1,500 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen, of Norway, center, races before winning the men's 5,000 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Kenneth Bednarek, of the United States beats Oblique Seville, of Jamaica to win the men's 100 meters final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Miltiadis Tentoglou, of Greece, makes an attempt in the men's long jump final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Sandi Morris, of the United States, poses with her trophy after winning the women's pole vault final at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Athletes compete in the mixed 4 X 100 meters relay final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Armand Duplantis, of Sweden, celebrates with the audience after winning the men's pole vault final during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

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