Patrizia van der Weken, Luxembourg's athlete; Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu

The Luxembourg Athletics Federation (Fédération Luxembourgeoise d'Athlétisme - FLA) has announced that Patrizia van der Weken will represent Luxembourg at the very first edition of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, which will take place from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.

According to the FLA, the new international competition created by World Athletics will bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Wanda Diamond League winners and athletes ranked among the best in the World Ranking. The championship will also feature the richest prize pot in the history of the sport, with $10 million (€8.6 million) available for participating athletes. Winners of individual events will receive $150,000 (€129,000), runners-up $75,000 (€64,500) and third-place finishers $40,000 (€34,400), while the winning relay teams will share $80,000 (€68,800).

Patrizia van der Weken qualified for the women's 100m through her position in the World Ranking, where she currently sits thirteenth. Her latest major international appearance came at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, where she finished fourth in 11.08 seconds.

The women's 100m competition in Budapest will feature no opening round. Instead, two semi-finals of eight athletes will be held, with the top four from each race advancing to the final. 

Race schedule – Saturday 12 September 2026:

  • 19:04: Women’s 100m semi-finals;
  • 20:38: Women’s 100m final, if qualified.

The programme has been reduced to 28 events - 26 individual disciplines and two mixed relays - spread across three three-hour sessions. The 3000 m steeplechase is among the events not included in the inaugural edition.

The FLA also noted that World Athletics will stage “The Day Before” on Thursday 10 September 2026, ahead of the start of competition. The programme will include a red carpet, media meetings, press conferences and other activities involving the athletes, while 200 m competitors will take part in a “lane draft” allowing them to choose their semi-final and lane.

Patrizia van der Weken's appearance in Budapest will conclude a season in which she finished sixth in the 100m final at the European Championships in Birmingham, fourth at the Diamond League Final in Brussels and twice placed third at Diamond League meetings.