PUMA Athletes Raise the Bar on World Sport in 2025
A year of record-setting performances, marathon breakthroughs and new competitive horizons.
December 31, 2025
In some of the world’s biggest arenas this year, PUMA athletes showed what is possible when talent and performance innovation come together. Leaping higher, running faster and pushing limits, they delivered defining performances that underscored the depth and strength of PUMA’s global roster.
Dominating the Global Stage: World Athletics 2025 in Tokyo
At the heart of the 2025 success story lies a formidable showing at the world’s biggest track and field stage, where PUMA equipped 155 athletes and 17 federations. Our PUMA athletes earned 25 individual medals, including 6 golds, across major competitive categories. These performances reflected not only top-tier talent but also the impact of PUMA’s industry-leading NITRO™ technology.
What made the year even more significant was the collective strength of the lineup, with athletes from diverse disciplines and nationalities delivering world-class results. Mondo Duplantis set the tone with a world record vault and a championship title in his signature PUMA EvoSPEED Naio NITRO™ Elite spikes. Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo delivered triple jump gold with a clutch 17.91m final attempt. In the high jump, New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr and Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers rose to the top of their fields (literally and competitively) and dominated their events.
These victories arrived as PUMA accelerated its innovation efforts. The launch of the PUMA NITRO™ LAB in Tokyo and significant advances in technologies like the Fast R NITRO™ Elite 3 provided athletes with performance gains that translated directly to podium results.
This season’s achievements were capped with formal recognition at the 2025 World Athletics Awards, where PUMA athletes Mondo Duplantis and Nicola Olyslagers were both named Athletes of the Year. The dual honour reflects a year in which PUMA athletes not only delivered defining performances on the global stage but set a standard across the sport.
This season’s achievements were capped with formal recognition at the 2025 World Athletics Awards, where PUMA athletes Mondo Duplantis and Nicola Olyslagers were both named Athletes of the Year. The dual honour reflects a year in which PUMA athletes not only delivered defining performances on the global stage but set a standard across the sport.
Marathon Momentum: From Elite to Everyday Runners
Progress in 2025 continued on roads worldwide. From Berlin and Boston to London and Valencia, this year brought a wave of breakthrough marathon results by athletes balancing demanding training with everyday life, all while wearing the new race shoe: Fast R NITRO™ Elite 3.
This momentum translated to major marathon stages with Valencia delivering a standout moment as PUMA athletes surged to record-setting times, national bests and breakthrough finishes on a course known for rewarding precision and speed. Amanal Petros of Germany powered to second place in 2:04:04, smashing the German national record and becoming the third fastest European marathoner of all time.
On the women’s side, Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet claimed third in 2:20:38, smashing her national record and rising to sixth on the European all-time list.
PUMA-equipped runners also achieved national records in Berlin, where athletes continued to set new standards, like Germany’s Domenika Mayer, who powered to 8th place in 2:23:16, a confident personal best. Poland’s Aleksandra Lisowska followed in 11th with the race of her life, stopping the clock at 2:24:59 and rewriting her country’s national record.
This momentum translated to major marathon stages with Valencia delivering a standout moment as PUMA athletes surged to record-setting times, national bests and breakthrough finishes on a course known for rewarding precision and speed. Amanal Petros of Germany powered to second place in 2:04:04, smashing the German national record and becoming the third fastest European marathoner of all time.
On the women’s side, Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet claimed third in 2:20:38, smashing her national record and rising to sixth on the European all-time list.
PUMA-equipped runners also achieved national records in Berlin, where athletes continued to set new standards, like Germany’s Domenika Mayer, who powered to 8th place in 2:23:16, a confident personal best. Poland’s Aleksandra Lisowska followed in 11th with the race of her life, stopping the clock at 2:24:59 and rewriting her country’s national record.
Fitness Racing Takes the Spotlight: HYROX
Fitness racing continued its rapid rise in 2025, shining a spotlight on a style of competition that blends endurance, strength and mass participation. PUMA recognized this shift early and reinforced its leadership in the space by renewing its long-term partnership with HYROX through 2030.
The HYROX World Championships in Chicago were an example of how far the movement has come. PUMA athletes and colleagues competed side by side with thousands of entrants from around the world. On the women’s side, Linda Meier closed with a blistering 0:58:56 to claim the Elite 15 title, outpacing long-time favourites and delivering a performance that turned heads.
With more HYROX athletes joining the PUMA team and the creation of performance footwear and apparel designed specifically for the format – including the first-of-its-kind HYROX shoe set to launch on 19 February 2026 – PUMA is helping define the next generation of fitness competition.
The HYROX World Championships in Chicago were an example of how far the movement has come. PUMA athletes and colleagues competed side by side with thousands of entrants from around the world. On the women’s side, Linda Meier closed with a blistering 0:58:56 to claim the Elite 15 title, outpacing long-time favourites and delivering a performance that turned heads.
With more HYROX athletes joining the PUMA team and the creation of performance footwear and apparel designed specifically for the format – including the first-of-its-kind HYROX shoe set to launch on 19 February 2026 – PUMA is helping define the next generation of fitness competition.
Teams that Rose to the Occasion
Alongside individual accolades and endurance milestones, 2025 also delivered defining moments in Teamsports. On football’s international stage, Portugal reached a pinnacle by winning the UEFA Nations League, demonstrating tactical strength and collective resolve in securing the title in one of the year’s most-watched national team tournaments.
In handball, PUMA teams across Europe captured attention with their outstanding performances: Germany women delivered a standout run to silver at the IHF Women’s World Championship, while Denmark’s men ascended to the top of the podium (for the fourth time) as World Champions. Together, these results reinforced PUMA’s presence at the highest level of team sport competition.
The Road Ahead
The performance archive of 2025 shows a brand and athlete ecosystem in transition, rooted in elite competition, but branching into emerging forms of sport and fitness. With a growing pool of top-level performers, strong alignment between athlete needs and expert product development, PUMA is entering 2026 with powerful momentum. Expect evolution.Key visual: photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
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