Noah Lyles and World Athletics Championship stars at risk of collapse as brutal heatwave hits Tokyo

The 2025 World Athletics Championship is set to face a huge challenge with a heatwave for Tokyo scheduled.

The world’s best track and field stars are heading to Japan to represent their countries on the international stage.

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The competition kicks off on Saturday and lasts for nine days, but unfortunately for athletes, Japan is in the midst of its hottest summer on record.

The average temperature has been 2.36 degrees above normal, with the opening day set to be around 32 degrees.

However, the real-feel temperature could be closer to 46 degrees on track.

This was an issue at the 2021 Olympics, and the marathon and other race events were moved.

They took place in the cooler northern city of Sapporo.

However, there are no plans for such changes this time, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe admitting the heat will cause problems.

He said: “I don’t think it’s any great secret, we do have some heat challenges in Tokyo.

“We had them actually at the time of the Games in 2021.”

Coe then went on to talk about climate change and the role that sport can play.

“Governments have not stepped up to the plate and sport is going to have to take some unilateral judgements and decisions here.

“And we have reflected in the past, if we are committed to athlete welfare, then we should probably be openly committed to that.”

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Are the athletes at risk?

The stars competing at the World Athletics Championship are in better shape than most other people on the planet.

But that doesn’t mean they are immune to the impacts of high temperatures.

The human body becomes at risk of fainting when the core body temperature reaches 40 degrees through heatstroke.

This usually happens during a heatwave, which Japan is in the middle of.

Of course, they will be keeping the fluids onboard and doing everything they can, but with on-track temperatures supposedly being close to 50 degrees, all of the athletes are going to face challenges they aren’t used to.

But World Athletics has lots of relevant solutions in place for competitors and spectators.

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Who is going for Team GB?

Team GB are hoping to finish in the top eight at the 2025 edition of the World Athletics Championship.

They have a few huge gold medal hopes, including Keely Hodgkinson.

Last year, the Brit claimed the 800m title at the 2024 Olympics, and she’ll look to win gold here.

Georgia Hunter-Bell is also a strong contender in that one.

Middle distance runner Josh Kerr defends his 1500m title that he won in 2023.

Meanwhile, George Mills, ex-Leeds United defender Danny’s son, has a strong chance of success in the men’s 5000m.

In the heptathlon, Katrina Johnson-Thompson is also defending her title.

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In the shorter running events, there are plenty of British men and women involved that have a chance.

Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita are expected to at least make the 100m final.

And in the men’s, Zharnel Hughes is looking to do well in the 100 and 200m.