“We love you, Michael. But, time to go. See you next year!”
By Michael Weadock, September 2026
Not my words but the words of athletes Imani Lansiquot and Daryll Neita following their involvement in the Athlos meeting in London. It was the final event of a busy year of athletics – both for the athletes and for me. It was the busiest I have ever been working in the sport across radio, the online commentary feeds that I occasionally do and our Anything but Footy podcast. In some shape or form, and with most of them being on site at the actual events, this is how my 2026 athletics calendar looked.
UK Indoor Championships
World Indoor Championships
London Marathon
UK Championships
English Championships
Diamond League
Commonwealth Games
European Championships
Ultimate Championships
Great North Run
2029 & 2031 Host City Announcement
Athlos
It’s been a great experience to have been able to attend so many events and I’ve really felt this year I’ve built some important relationships with the athletes having seen them and spoken to them on so many occasions. It was actually slightly embarrassing to ask Georgia Hunter Bell for another chat after Athlos – especially as she had very mildly rebuked me at the Ultimate Championships in Budapest for asking her about next season. “That’s for next year, Michael. Please just let me have a break!” were her exact words.
I think that most of the athletes really understand the power of these broadcast opportunities. And, not just traditional media like the broadcasters, but the new generation of podcasters and content creators. Interestingly, one of the other observations I have about this season is how the athletes themselves are taking charge of their own channels. We’ve spoken about Amy Hunt’s Vlogs, Jermiah Azu’s YouTube videos and Daryll’s Diaries before on the podcast. In Budapest, Lina Nielsen explained how she’s been making a living, alongside her athletics, as a content creator and has set herself up as a company director to facilitate this.
Relationships are so important as a sports broadcaster and reporter. I certainly wouldn’t say I know Keely Hodgkinson really well, but she does recognise me now and there have been occasions this year where she has stopped and spoken after a race when I’m sure she would have preferred to go and have a warm down. It’s only that level of familiarity which meant she made that decision. Likewise, in Budapest I was in the middle of interviewing Amy Hunt when Josh Kerr arrived in the interview area and he patiently waited for me to finish up speaking to Amy. Had I not had some ‘facetime’ with Josh this year, he probably would have quietly walked past eager to go and meet with his team.
These new events have also given the athletes an opportunity to express themselves and I agree with Georgia Hunter Bell when she told me there’s a place for things like Athlos, with its red carpet and fireworks, but there’s also a place for the more traditional longer format championships. World Athletics President Seb Coe’s ambition is to have a longer season with more, and different events, and then leave it up to the athletes to choose what they do and don’t compete in. His successor will inevitably carry this work forwards.
A few highlights of the year: Josh’s world record over the mile in London; Keely, Georgia & Molly Caudery all winning gold within an hour at the World Indoor Championships; witnessing the first sub 2-hour marathon in London and Jazmin Sawyers winning Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. I ended up on the same flight to Budapest as Jazmin and found myself sitting across the aisle from her. I can also confirm she is not the type of person who claps when the plane lands which I can only see as another very positive personality trait!
For now, the athletes will enjoy some downtime until they begin their winter training and then onto the indoor season when the whole thing will start again. Next year it will culminate in Beijing at the World Championships and then the Olympics in Los Angeles will follow pretty closely as they are being staged relatively early in the season.
