TORUŃ, Poland – The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships concluded Sunday in Toruń, Poland, with a series of compelling performances and a gold medal for Ukraine’s Oleh Doroshchuk in the men’s high jump. While Doroshchuk celebrated a personal triumph, Czech athletes experienced a range of outcomes, from disappointment for Jan Štefela to advancement for Tomáš Kolomazník and Barbora Maňasová.
Doroshchuk, already the reigning European indoor champion, secured his World Indoor title with a jump of 2.30 meters, clearing the height on his first attempt. Mexico’s Erick Portillo surprised many by also reaching 2.30 meters, earning him the silver medal after a jump-off. South Korea’s Woo Sang-hyeok and Jamaica’s Raymond Richards shared bronze with 2.26 meters. The competition was a showcase of high-level athleticism, but fell short for Czech hopeful Jan Štefela, who finished sixth with a jump of 2.26 meters.
Štefela, who entered the competition as a favorite, struggled to maintain momentum after clearing earlier heights. He successfully navigated 2.17 and 2.22 meters, but ultimately failed to clear 2.30 meters after three attempts. The result marks a setback for the Czech high jumper, who had been aiming for a medal at the championships.
The championships also saw a dominant performance from Sweden’s Armand Duplantis in the men’s pole vault, claiming his fourth consecutive world indoor title with a season’s best jump of 6.25 meters. Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis took silver, while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall earned bronze.
In a stunning display of athleticism, Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer broke the world record in the men’s heptathlon, amassing 6,670 points over two days of competition. Heath Baldwin and Kyle Garland of the United States rounded out the podium, securing silver and bronze respectively. Czech athlete Petr Stráský finished fourth in the heptathlon with a total of 5238 points, a strong showing but just shy of medal contention.
Stráský’s performance included a season’s best in the pole vault at 510 centimeters, and a personal best time of 2:33.25 in the 1000-meter run. Despite a strong second day, he was unable to overcome the points deficit from the first day of competition. Ondřej Kopecký, the second Czech competitor in the heptathlon, finished 11th with 4943 points.
The mixed 4x400m relay saw Belgium claim gold in a championship record time of 3:15.60, followed by Spain and Poland.
On the track, Czech athletes Kolomazník and Maňasová advanced to the semifinals in their respective events. Kolomazník qualified for the men’s 60-meter hurdles semifinals with a time of 7.72 seconds, while Maňasová progressed in the women’s 60-meter dash, clocking a time of 7.19 seconds. Štefko, however, did not advance in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, finishing with a time of 7.71 seconds.
The World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń provided a thrilling spectacle of athletic competition, showcasing both established stars and emerging talents. While the Czech team experienced a mixed bag of results, the advancement of Kolomazník and Maňasová to the semifinals offers a promising outlook for their continued participation in the championships.
Next up, Kolomazník and Maňasová will compete in the semifinals of their respective events on Tuesday, March 24th, as the championships continue. Fans can follow live updates and results on the World Athletics website.
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