AW Magazine

6 March 2025

The latest issue of AW magazine, published on March 6, places the focus on the changing landscape of athletics. From footwear to event innovation, record-breakers to broadcasting, we examine the big areas where change is in the air. The year has begun with a raft of world records and two of them were set by Grant Fisher, the American setting new standards indoors over both 3000m and 5000m. He talks about those landmark performances and why so many athletes are running faster than ever before. There could be a big change at the very top of the sport if Sebastian Coe wins the race to be the new IOC president. He faces stiff competition but in this issue Duncan Mackay writes about why the man in charge of World Athletics has made a habit out of proving his doubters wrong. Some of the most controversial proposals for change have recently come in the long jump, and Carl Lewis (who has four Olympic titles in the event) has his say on those ideas, as well as giving his views on the areas where athletics needs to adapt if it is to survive. Super shoes and spikes have undoubtedly transformed the sport, and Peter Thompson - coach and biomechanist - charts the footwear transformation, while Verity Ockenden provides first-hand insight into what it’s like trying to make a living from athletics in the current climate. Olympian and broadcaster Tim Hutchings also explores the tricky art of trying to watch athletics when there is so much of it available to watch all over the globe, while we also get the views from the clubs to find out what’s changed and the challenges that remain at the grassroots level. The indoor season is also reaching its climax, with the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing on the horizon. Grant Holloway is going for his third consecutive world indoor 60m hurdles title and the American talks about his unbeaten run in the event that stretches back over a decade. The issue also includes our packed performance section - full of training, coaching and footwear advice - as well as many of our regular features, such as My Greatest Race and Rising Star.