By Westferry Times Sports Desk | 22 March 2026
Great Britain delivered their finest ever performance at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, claiming four gold medals in Torun, Poland—including a remarkable trio of victories in just 28 minutes on the final day.
The British squad surpassed their previous best from Maebashi 1999, where they won three golds, cementing this as the most successful World Indoors in the nation’s history.
The Golden Hour
Sunday evening in Torun belonged to British athletics. What unfolded between 7:00pm and 8:00pm GMT will be remembered as one of the most dominant half-hours in the championship’s history.
Georgia Hunter Bell struck first, capturing her maiden global title with a commanding victory in the women’s 1500m. The triumph marked her breakthrough on the world stage and set the tone for the evening.
Barely had the celebrations subsided when Molly Caudery added her second World Indoor gold, clearing the pole vault bar with characteristic flair—her trademark blonde pigtails visible from the stands as she beamed atop the podium.
Then came the main event. Keely Hodgkinson, already the Olympic and European champion, finally claimed her first world indoor 800m title in devastating fashion. Crossing the line with a championship record, Hodgkinson punched the air with a smile that belied the brutal nature of the two-lap sprint.
“Everybody else running this event is absolutely dying a death,” observed former Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford on BBC Two. “But she punched her fists as she crossed the line, smiled in every direction and jogged around. She has wintered incredibly well.”
Kerr Opens the Account
The gold rush began on Saturday when Josh Kerr claimed Britain’s first medal of the championships, winning the men’s 3000m. The Scottish middle-distance star set the standard that his teammates would follow.
Hodgkinson’s Double Duty
Never one to rest on laurels, Hodgkinson returned to the track an hour after her 800m triumph to anchor Great Britain’s women’s 4x400m relay team. Joining debutant Tess McHugh, sprint star Dina Asher-Smith, and Louisa Stoney, the quartet finished fifth—just two seconds shy of the podium.
“I’ve been saying for a couple of years that I want to be a part of this team,” Hodgkinson said. “I wanted to take up the challenge even after running the 800m.”
Asher-Smith, more accustomed to the 60m dash, embraced the longer distance: “When your nation asks you, you definitely go out there and give it your best shot.”
Medal Table Impact
The four golds propelled Great Britain to second place in the final medal table, behind only a dominant United States team. It represents a remarkable statement of intent with the outdoor season—and the European Championships—approaching.
For British athletics, Torun 2026 will be remembered as the moment a talented generation announced themselves as genuine global contenders across multiple disciplines.
Full coverage of the World Athletics Indoor Championships continues at bbcsport.co.uk
