Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The women’s 800m at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest features a strong field, including Audrey Werro, Keely Hodgkinson, and Femke Broeders-Bol. The semifinals are set for Friday, 11 September, with the final on Saturday, 12 September.
Audrey Werro of Switzerland has been the standout outdoor performer in 2026, holding a world-leading time of 1:53.70. At 22, Werro is the third-fastest woman in history at the distance. She is unbeaten outdoors and has secured key wins, including the European title in Birmingham and a recent Diamond League victory in Brussels.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain started the year strongly by breaking the world indoor record and winning the world indoor title, but missed recent events in Zurich and Brussels due to a hamstring injury. Hodgkinson aims to regain the form that earned her the world indoor title as she returns to compete in Budapest.
Femke Broeders-Bol of the Netherlands has made impressive progress after switching from the 400m hurdles to the 800m this season. She has improved to a personal best of 1:54.71, ranking ninth on the all-time world list, and has been highly competitive against Werro, narrowly missing victory in Brussels.
Other challengers include Addison Wiley, the world indoor bronze medallist, along with a strong international field.