Local Organising Committee for the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships unveiled the official medals for the event.
The medals were revealed on Friday, February 10, by General Manager for the WXC Bathurst 23, Richard Welsh, at the start and finish line of the course at Mount Panorama.
It was disclosed that Australian Katy Pastoors designed the medals incorporating a unique design inspired by the rugged Bathurst terrain as well as the traditional landowners of the Bathurst region, the Wiradjuri people.
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Also present on the medal is the WXC Bathurst 23 logo incorporating an indigenous design with traditional dot paint styling as well as an iconic Australian boomerang.
According to the WXC Burturst 23 General Manager Welsh that aside from the medals being an honor to athletes after competing they should also connect each athlete to the land on which they are won.
“We know how much it means to the athletes and what it represents to them. So we’re excited to play our part in giving them a medal that tells the story of the land they ran on in Wiradjuri country on Saturday, February 18, 2023,” Welsh stated.
Pastoors, the designer of the medals, added that the design he went with represented the three rivers of the Wiradjuri people with the shape of the rivers referencing the rolling hills of cross country.
“I believe it is important to respect the indigenous artwork and culture in my design, and also tell a story about the region the championships are taking place in,” Patoor noted.
Opening the Championships will be the 4x2km Mixed Relay World Title Race.
Ethiopia and Kenya have won every women’s team medal since 1995 and only once in 40 years has the men’s team medal gone to anyone else.
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