Everything you need to know about the major combined events competition on May 30-31.
Once again, Götzis Hypomeeting presents world-class lineups for the May 30-31, 2026 edition. Such is the quality, history and prestige of this event, a win in an Austrian city almost equates to success in a major championship.
Reigning world champion Leo Neugebauer of Germany will try to break the 9,000-point barrier for the first time, as his best is 8,961.
Damian Warner is an eight-time winner in Götzis and has won the Olympic title in 2021. The Canadian also has a best score of 9018 and now, aged 36, is looking to bounce back from a subpar performance in 2025 when he finished sixth.
Fellow Canadian Piers LaPage will also be a top contender. The 33-year-old, whose best is 8,909, won the world title in 2023 and Goetzis in the same season.
Also look out for Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer as he set a world record 6,670 sevens event in Torun earlier this year when he won the world title. 26 years old too featured in this month’s AW magazine.
American Challenge is headlined by Heath Baldwin, Harrison Williams and Huckin McMorris.
Further contenders include Karel Tilga of Estonia, Niklas Kaul (Germany) and Mackens Gletti (France), while Lewis Church leads the British challenge, although last year’s winner, Norway’s Sander Skotheim, is absent.
The heptathlon will also see a new champion as last year’s winner Anna Hall has withdrawn from the event. Last year, the American won by 7,032the second-highest score in history before going on To win the title of world champion in Tokyo.
Sophie Docter from the Netherlands is the new world indoor champion from Torun. Last year, he finished second in Götzis with 6,576 points and finished sixth at the World Championships in Tokyo.
He is joined by 2021 Olympic bronze medalist Emma Oosterwegel of the Netherlands.
READ MORE. Goetzis’ enduring appeal
Nur Weeds, a two-time indoor world champion and bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, leads the Belgian challenge and turns 30 on May 30.
The United States is represented by last year’s Tokyo bronze medalist Talia Brooks, plus Ellie Jones, who was sixth in Goetzis 12 months ago.
Also watch out for Saga Vaninen, the 2025 world indoor champion from Finland, as well as Switzerland’s Annick Kellin, while Britain’s Jade O’Dowdah hopes to improve on her PB of 6,391.
