Bahrain's Winfred Yavi Advances to Finals of the World Athletics Championships 2025

Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, has confidently advanced to the final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

She secured her automatic qualification after finishing heat two with a strong time of 9:15.63, held at Japan’s National Stadium. 

In her heat, Yavi ran with poise—positioning herself just behind the leaders, conserving energy, and ensuring she crossed the line well within the time needed to advance. The final race is set to take place on Tuesday, September 16, at 3:57 p.m. Bahrain time. 

Yavi enters the final riding high, defending titles from both the 2023 World Championships in Doha and the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she claimed gold in this very event. Her performance in Tokyo underscores her consistency and dominance in the steeplechase discipline. 

The field in the finals will be strong: 16 athletes progressed to join Yavi, including Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, Kenya’s Doris Lemngole and Faith Cherotich, Ethiopia’s Lomi Muleta and Sembo Almayew, Germany’s Lea Meyer and Gesa Felicitas Krause, and the US’s Kaylee Mitchell and Angelina Napoleon. These contenders bring sharp times and serious competition.

For Bahrain, Yavi’s advancement adds momentum to a strong team campaign in Tokyo. She’s joined by teammates like Kemi Adekoya, who has moved into the semi-finals of the women’s 400m hurdles, and Salwa Eid Naser, set to compete in the women’s 400m after posting the fastest time across all heats. 

As the steeplechase final looms, all eyes will be on Yavi to see if she can successfully defend her world title and perhaps write yet another chapter in her already decorated career. The world will be watching—but Bahrain already has reason to be proud.