Kerr reveals grade two calf tear in world final

Josh Kerr has confirmed he sustained a grade two calf tear in the World Championship 1500m final earlier this month.

The Olympic silver medallist and 2023 world champion had been expected to be among those competing for medals but pulled up on the penultimate lap, with fellow Scot Jake Wightman finishing second to winner Isaac Nader.

Kerr, 27, revealed the issue originated as a "minor strain" following an "overstretch" near the end of his semi-final.

"I relied a lot on my medical team and we got pretty close, I felt pretty confident going into the final and was just ready to send it, and then with 600m to go in the world final, fully pulled my calf," Kerr said on Instagram.

"Grade two is what I'm getting told," he added.

"I definitely did some more damage to that in that last 600 than right away, but my job is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible and that's what I wanted to commit to, you never know what can happen in these races.

"Frustrating and the journey on the way back is going to be an interesting one.

"Getting better already and on my journey back. Definitely feeling the fire for 2026."

Kerr also posted photographs of his injured calf and a video of him doing some work in the pool.

He explained he had kept a low profile since the final to "process" the injury and "to keep the focus where the focus is supposed to be - on the winners and the medals of that race and not of the sob stories".

"Massive congrats to the medallists, massive congrats to Jake - huge result for him and so awesome to see him back on the podium," Kerr said.

"Massive congratulations to the new world champion."