Josh Kerr Confidently Defends 1500m World Title at Tokyo Championships

Josh Kerr, the defending world champion in the men's 1500m, is entering the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with strong confidence and determination to retain his title amid a highly competitive field. Despite fierce rivals like Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who is returning from injury, and rising stars such as Niels Laros and Cole Hocker, Kerr asserts his dominance by highlighting his consistent victories over key competitors this season and his history of peaking at this stage. Kerr acknowledges the challenges posed by the new generation of athletes but emphasizes his experience and preparation, noting improvements in his form and fitness since 2024. He embraces the pressure of being the athlete to beat, viewing it as a motivating factor rather than a burden, and expresses excitement about the upcoming races. Kerr's recent training milestones, including achieving his fastest 200m rep ever, signal his readiness to defend his crown. Overall, Kerr sees the event as a compelling contest with multiple storylines, confident that he remains the man to beat in the 1500m.