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Swiss photographer Martin Bissig had the opportunity to shoot the Columbia SANFO Ultra 168 trail challenge, on the site of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

In the middle of a roundabout was a gigantic sign reading “Beijing 2022.” From the back seat of the car I was in, I saw “Beijing 2022” everywhere as we approached the Chinese city of Chongli: on flags, on banners lining the streets, on huge billboards plastered onto the facades of buildings. Even though we’d driven for more than three hours and China’s capital was well behind us, it still felt as though we were in a suburb of the metropolis of 22 million people. If I’d driven for three hours starting from my homeland of Switzerland, I’d have reached either Italy, France, Germany or Austria.

If it hadn’t been for the five-ringed Olympic symbol under the letters, I wouldn’t have had the slightest idea of what was going on in 2022 in Beijing. Thanks to my Swiss preconceived notions — due in no small part to my frequent trips to the Middle Kingdom, as China traditionally refers to itself — China had not figured strongly in my mind as a location for winter sports. Or for trail running. That’s why I was even more thrilled when I received a request to photograph the 2019 Columbia SANFO Ultra 168 trail challenge.

More than 4,000 athletes had registered. The first round of runners, which totalled just under 600, had to conquer 168K with a total elevation gain of 8,000m. The remaining participants were signed up for the 130K, 100K, 70K, 50K and 30K loops, or the 10K “Joy Run.” The races were spread out over the three race days, and they all went through varied terrain, through ancient villages, along ski lift lines, over mountain ridges and even along (or on) the Great Wall of China.

Out of the planned city and into the wild

With the future Olympic Athletes’ Village up and ready to go and a number of hotels, everything in Chongli appeared to be running on schedule for the 2022 Games. An expansive and green mountainous landscape graces the city outskirts. Swaths of ski runs cut through the densely forested mountains, which are dotted with wind turbines. The landscape looks more like something I’m used to seeing in Europe.

On an e-bike provided by race organizers, I accompanied the first group of racers to the hilly backcountry. A few hours later, it started to rain. The mood was amazing, the participants were still fired up and they all gave me a friendly wave. Of course, the biggest part of the race still lay ahead. In no way did they resemble the exhausted and dazed-looking runners I would be seeing three days later.

Race Day 2: so that’s the Great Wall of China?

Well before sunrise, my guide, Patrick, and I prepared to ride our bikes up to the Thaiwoo Ski Resort’s mountain station.

The first runners of the pack had already made it past the mountain station in the dark and were more than halfway to the finish line. At this point, the athletes for all the different races had come together and were running the same stretch.

Once we’d reached the top, we carried our bikes over a huge pile of rocks. “You just climbed over the Great Wall of China,” Patrick called out. I remember thinking that I’d imagined this wall to be somewhat different. I launched my drone, at which point I was able to see the actual scope of the “rock pile.” What had looked like a four-metre-wide pile of rocks from close up displayed its true dimensions when seen from above. The Wall was easily recognizable as such and extended for kilometres along the mountain range.

A refreshment stop had been set up at the ski resort’s mountain station. Some of the athletes used the restaurant as a place to sleep after having run through the night. Others fortified themselves with some noodle soup. The glowing faces from the day before were already showing signs of the overnight exertion. We rode our bikes down the single tracks and reached a traditional village. The route went right through the farm village, and I snapped a few great shots of the inhabitants, their houses and their surroundings.

I returned to the last stretch I’d covered the day before. Gone were the friendly waves and happy, smiling faces filled with anticipation. Those who were on Day 3 and still had to conquer the last 10K of the race, after having run through two nights, were focused only on finishing. The champions had long since reached the finish line, but the stragglers were still struggling through their final kilometres. This was where the real drama was taking place — within sight of the finish line, not at the head of the race. Looking weakened and dazed, they dragged their tired bodies into the meal tent. Some of them practically fell asleep while eating. Swollen, cracked feet were tended to, a last snack or cigarette was consumed and off they headed toward the finish.

Kenya’s next great road-running sensation may have officially arrived.

At just 24 years old, Dennis Kipkogei delivered a breathtaking performance at the Gutenberg Mainz Half Marathon on Sunday May 10th 2026, storming to victory in a sensational course-record time of 59:14. In doing so, the emerging Kenyan star not only shattered the previous mark but also elevated the status of the German event onto the global stage of elite half marathon racing.

His remarkable run now ranks Mainz among the fastest half marathons in Germany, with only Berlin producing quicker winning times in recent years. But beyond the statistics, it was the authority, composure, and dominance of Kipkogei’s performance that captured attention.

The Kenyan crossed the finish line more than a minute ahead of the chasing pack, underlining the gulf in class between himself and the rest of the field. Fellow Kenyans Kelvin Kipruto and Jamal Kiprono completed a clean sweep of the podium, clocking 60:25 and 60:29 respectively, but the day unquestionably belonged to Kipkogei.

What makes the performance even more impressive is how rapidly the young runner is adapting to the international stage. Mainz marked only Kipkogei’s second race outside Kenya following his breakthrough appearance at the Berlin Half Marathon in March, where he finished runner-up after spending much of the race assisting with pacing duties. That performance hinted at enormous potential. His display in Mainz confirmed it.

This time there were no questions, no supporting role, and no shared spotlight. Kipkogei took command of the race with maturity far beyond his years, producing a fearless front-running display that signaled the arrival of a serious contender in global distance running.

His 59:14 performance now places him among the fastest half marathon runners in the world this season and strengthens Kenya’s already rich legacy in long-distance road racing. More importantly, it suggests that Dennis Kipkogei possesses the rare combination of speed, endurance, and tactical intelligence required to become one of the sport’s future headline names.

For German road racing, it was a historic morning. For Dennis Kipkogei, it may prove to be the moment the world truly took notice.

Under the dazzling lights of Shanghai, Shericka Jackson reminded the athletics world exactly why she remains one of the most feared women in sprinting. In a fiercely competitive women’s 200 metres packed with elite talent, the Jamaican superstar stormed to victory in a commanding 22.07 seconds, delivering one of the strongest statements of the early season.

With a legal +0.3 wind behind the field, Jackson looked sharp, composed, and devastatingly efficient through every phase of the race. From the moment she attacked the curve, her trademark blend of power and relaxation separated her from the field, before she surged away in the final metres to secure an emphatic win. More than just another Diamond League success, the performance served as a clear reminder that Jackson is already building serious momentum ahead of the championship season.

The race carried additional intrigue with the long-awaited return of Shaunae Miller-Uibo to the Diamond League circuit. Competing in her first appearance at this level in three years, the Bahamian star produced an impressive run of 22.26 seconds to finish second, showing encouraging signs as she continues her comeback journey. Her presence added extra quality to an already stacked contest and elevated the atmosphere inside the stadium.

Yet the night ultimately belonged to Jackson. The double world champion did not simply win — she controlled the race with the authority of an athlete fully aware of her dominance. At this stage of the season, such a performance carries enormous significance. While many athletes are still searching for rhythm and race sharpness, Jackson already appears locked in, confident, and dangerously close to peak form.

What makes the victory even more compelling is the manner in which it was achieved. There was no visible strain, no desperate lean at the finish, only the calm assurance of a sprinter operating several levels above the field. It was the kind of performance that sends a message across the global sprinting landscape: Shericka Jackson is not easing into the season — she is attacking it.

As the road toward the major championships continues, Shanghai may well be remembered as the night Jackson officially announced her intentions to the world. If this performance is an indication of what is to come, the women’s sprint scene could be heading toward another season dominated by Jamaican brilliance.

Just four days after celebrating his 28th birthday, South African sprint star Gift Leotlela handed himself the perfect present — a sensational victory in the men’s 100 metres at the Shanghai Diamond League.

Leotlela stormed to victory in a blistering 9.97 seconds, edging one of the strongest sprint fields of the season in a race that was decided by the narrowest of margins. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala crossed the line in 9.98, matching the time of American sprint sensation Kenny Bednarek, who settled for third after a dramatic finish.

The race delivered elite-level drama from start to finish, with American star Trayvon Bromell and Australia’s Lachie Kennedy both clocking 10.01 to finish fourth and fifth respectively in one of the fastest and most competitive 100m contests of the year.

For Leotlela, however, the night belonged entirely to him.

The South African has quietly been building momentum throughout the season, and Shanghai now feels like confirmation that he is ready to challenge the very best consistently on the global stage. His latest triumph comes after opening his 2026 campaign with victory at the South African Championships last month, a performance that hinted at what was to come.

Now, with a sub-10 second victory against a stacked international field, Leotlela appears to be picking up exactly where he left off after his impressive fifth-place finish at last year’s World Championships.

What made the performance even more remarkable was the composure he displayed under immense pressure. Against proven championship medal contenders and some of the quickest starters in the world, Leotlela stayed relaxed, executed brilliantly through the drive phase, and unleashed a powerful finish to snatch the win in the closing metres.

The result further strengthens South Africa’s growing reputation as a sprinting powerhouse and signals that Leotlela could be a major force as the season progresses toward the world’s biggest championships.

In Shanghai, the timing could not have been more poetic. Four days after turning 28, Gift Leotlela did not just celebrate a birthday — he announced himself as one of the most dangerous sprinters in the world.

The 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon produced a thrilling showcase of endurance, dominance, and elite distance running as Ethiopia’s Ayantu Kumela and Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptoo Kororia emerged victorious with commanding performances in the Latvian capital.

Kumela successfully defended her women’s crown in breathtaking fashion, delivering an even stronger display than last year to cement her growing legacy in Riga. The Ethiopian star crossed the finish line in an impressive 2:26:40, nearly two minutes faster than her previous winning performance, underlining both her consistency and remarkable progression on the marathon stage.

Running with confidence and control from the opening kilometers, Kumela gradually distanced herself from the chasing pack before powering home to a memorable back-to-back triumph. Her composed race execution and devastating late surge once again proved too strong for the elite field assembled in Riga.

Fellow Ethiopian Obse Abdeta Deme secured second place in 2:27:50, while Sadura Adawork Aberta completed an all-Ethiopian podium after clocking 2:29:05 for third.

In the men’s race, Kelvin Kiptoo Kororia produced a stunning performance of his own, delivering a masterclass that left no doubt about his superiority on the day. The Kenyan runner stormed to victory in 2:08:58, finishing with authority after an electrifying run through the streets of Riga.

Kororia looked in complete command throughout the race, maintaining a relentless rhythm before unleashing a powerful finishing stretch that thrilled spectators at the finish line. His victory was not only decisive but also symbolic of a runner operating at the peak of confidence and strength.

Ethiopia’s Getachew Kene Tufa claimed second place in 2:11:29, while Kenya’s Stephen Kipkemoi Kibor completed the podium in third after clocking 2:12:27.

With both races delivering fast times and unforgettable moments, the 2026 Rimi Riga Marathon once again lived up to its growing reputation as one of Europe’s premier road racing events. Yet above all, the spotlight belonged to Kumela and Kororia — two champions whose dominant performances transformed Riga into a stage of marathon excellence.

Kenya’s rising middle-distance sensation Emmaculate Jemutai produced one of the most remarkable performances of the Big 12 Championships, storming to two gold medals within the space of just one hour and twenty minutes in a breathtaking display of endurance, tactical brilliance, and raw determination.

Representing Kansas, Jemutai first conquered a fiercely competitive women’s 1500m field, timing her race to perfection before unleashing a devastating finishing kick to cross the line in 4:09.66. Against a stacked lineup packed with elite collegiate talent, the Kenyan star remained composed throughout the tactical contest before separating herself when it mattered most.

Her victory in the 1500m alone would have been enough to headline the day, but Jemutai was far from finished.

Barely eighty minutes later, she returned to the track for the women’s 800m final and once again delivered under pressure. Despite the physical demands of the earlier race, Jemutai showed extraordinary resilience and championship mentality, surging to another impressive triumph in 2:05.90 to complete a sensational double that left the crowd in awe.

Winning two middle-distance titles in such a short span is an exceptionally rare achievement at championship level, requiring not only elite fitness but also tactical intelligence, recovery ability, and mental toughness. Jemutai displayed all of those qualities in abundance.

The manner in which she controlled both races underlined her growing reputation as one of the most versatile and dangerous middle-distance athletes in collegiate athletics. Her ability to seamlessly transition from the tactical demands of the 1500m to the speed and intensity of the 800m showcased a runner operating at an elite level.

For Kansas Track and Field, Jemutai’s heroics marked one of the standout moments of the championships, while for Kenyan athletics, her dominant performances continue to signal the emergence of another exciting talent on the global stage.

From patience and poise in the 1500m to courage and strength in the 800m, Emmaculate Jemutai delivered a championship performance that will be remembered for a long time in Big 12 history.