Algarve runner Isaac Nader pulled off the race of his life today (September 17) in Tokyo, Japan, surging past rivals in the final stretch to claim the men’s 1,500 metres world title at the World Athletics Championship.
The 26-year-old Benfica athlete crossed the finish line at 3:34.10 minutes, edging out Britain’s Jake Wightman by just two hundredths of a second. Kenya’s Reynold Cheruyot took bronze with 3:34.25.
It is Portugal’s first medal at these World Championships in Japan, with triple jumper Pedro Pichardo also in contention later this week after booking his place in Friday’s final.
Nader’s triumph adds to Portugal’s proud history in the event. He is only the fourth Portuguese athlete to win a medal at the 1,500m event in World Championships, following in the footsteps of Carla Sacramento (gold in Athens 1997, bronze in Gothenburg 1995) and Rui Silva (bronze in Helsinki 2005).
The victory marks Nader’s second international podium of 2025, after taking bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn earlier this year. Born in Faro, Algarve, he now owns the best-ever men’s result for Portugal in the event – matching Sacramento’s legendary gold from nearly three decades ago.
