POST-Nanjing 2025 Global Indoor Performance Analysis 2015-2025

This article is guest blogged by Peter Thompson. He is known for innovating the New Interval Training and, most recently, Biokinetics and The Fourth Energy System. He was also the co-founder USATF Coach Education (1982) and former Director of IAAF Global Coaches Education.

Fun facts:

From 2015-2019 on average 47 men per year ran under 4:00 for the Mile. In 2025 this number is 244. 
From 2015-2019 on average 60 women per year ran under 4:40 for the Mile. In 2025 this number is 221.

Each year I produce various analyses on the topic of the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Carbon-Plated/Foam Shoes and Spikes Technology on Annual Performance Lists. I said last year that I didn’t believe that anyone has given them this sort of analysis and I don’t believe anyone has yet actioned an updated analysis to 2025.

Pre-Nanjing 25, Martin pointed out, very correctly, some obfuscating factors in that recently circulated NCAA Indoor 2015-2025 report with extensions to athletes’ collegiate careers due to COVID. These factors fortunately do not impact the graphs we see in this Global Report.

This is the WORLD INDOOR 2015-2025 and I would recommend viewing the attachments on the largest screen that you have available.

NOTE: This report deals only with the traditional environmentally differentiated indoor track & field competition and not “Short Track”. World Athletics “Short Track” was introduced in November 2023 and refers to events and performances that take place on 200-metre tracks, regardless of whether they are held indoors or outdoors

This PDF file is 17 pages and 3.6Mb.