Kerr ends the final run anyway
World champion is injured in the final and limps to the finish
17.09.2025 – 5:22 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Josh Kerr started as defending champion at the World Cup in Tokyo. But the Brit was injured during the race – and ended it limp.
Josh Kerr actually wanted to defend his title over the 1,500 meters at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo. The Brit won gold in Budapest two years ago. But Kerr finished the final on Wednesday.
What happened? Everything seemed to be normal. Kerr sorted himself further in the field. After 900 meters, the reigning world champion began to limp and fell back. However, the defending champion did not give up – and continued to limp across the train.
“It won’t work anymore,” said the commentator in the ARD about the injured British and added: “How unhappy is that.” While nothing was given at the top and fought for any placement, Kerr had to keep tearing off.
The final, in which the German runner Robert Farken was also there, ended Kerr after 4: 11.23 minutes. Nothing is known about his injury. However, Kerr came to the finish line.
The Portuguese Isaac Nader voted for the new world champion in 3: 34.10 minutes. Silver went to Jake Wightman (3: 34.12), bronze to Reynold Cheruiyot (3: 34.25).
He said on ZDF: “Sixth place at a World Cup. The best season of my life. After a change in life that I did with the move to the USA, it is so much satisfaction and so much that I finally worked.
Then he added to the final run with a view to the jury: “I more than clearly demonstrated that I belonged here and that it was all so okay that I was in the final.”