WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025: Full Season Recap and Shanghai Tower Grand Finale

December 3, 2025

The World Federation of Great Towers WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025 has officially reached its peak. From April to November, athletes climbed thousands of steps across some of the world’s most iconic structures, pushing physical and mental limits in eight spectacular races. With global participation and new course records, this season has set a new standard for the sport.

The final race took place on November 22 at the Shanghai Tower, concluding a year defined by endurance, elevation, and international athletic spirit. Here’s a full recap of an extraordinary 2025 season.

Tallinn TV Tower (April 6, 2025)

The season began in Estonia, where nearly 200 participants took on the demanding ascent of 1,050 steps to the top of the 314 meter tall Tallinn TV Tower. Crisp spring weather and high anticipation set the tone for the year. Klaudia Krajewska of Poland and Estonia’s own Rauno Tiits claimed victory, establishing the competitive energy that carried through the entire season.

Taipei 101 (May 3, 2025)

The WFGT Towerrunning Challenge moved to Asia’s architectural icon, Taipei 101, where more than 5,000 runners from 34 countries climbed 2,046 steps and 390 vertical meters of this 508 meter tall giant. The event blended elite sport with festival atmosphere, drawing spectators, DJs, and energy throughout the plaza. Japan’s Ryoji Watanabe and Croatia’s Tea Faber captured the top spots, with Faber competing at the Taipei 101 for the first time!

UFO Tower Bratislava (June 28, 2025)

Under bright summer skies, athletes celebrated the 10th anniversary of the UFO Vertical Sprint at the 95 meter tall UFO Tower by racing up 423 steps to the open-air observation deck above the Danube. Local favorite Kamila Chomaničová and Austria’s Klaus Hausleitner took the day’s titles as Bratislava delivered one of the season’s most scenic competitions.

Space Needle Seattle (September 28, 2025)

Crossing into North America, runners tackled 832 steps inside Seattle’s Space Needle during the Base2Space event, raising funds for the Fred Hutch Cancer Center and the Space Needle Foundation for the next leg of the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025. With participants ranging from age 8 to 80+, the race was a celebration of community and inclusivity. Shaun Stephens-Whale from Canada, Jill Paha from the United States, and non-binary champion Jack Chang, also from the United States, were the top finishers.

Empire State Building (October 8, 2025)

The legendary Empire State Building Run-Up returned for its 47th edition under the glow of New York City’s night sky. Participants battled 1,576 steps to reach the 86th floor of the iconic 443 meter tall tower. Shari Klarfeld of the United States and Italy’s Fabio Ruga secured their first ESBRU titles in an evening of dramatic, tightly fought racing.

Willis Tower Chicago (November 2, 2025)

The sixth race of the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025 took place at the 442 meter tall Willis Tower, home to Skydeck Chicago. This race, SkyRise Chicago, takes place annually and with 2,159 steps it is the tallest stair climbing race in the US! This 17th edition of SkyRise Chicago brought more than 2,000 participants to the Willis Tower, including hand cyclists and virtual climbers, raising an impressive $1.2 million for the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. United States athletes Jill Paha and Alex Workman emerged as the WFGT champions in an event that continues to be a defining fixture in the global towerrunning community.

SkyTower Bucharest (November 8, 2025)

SkyRun Bucharest reached a major milestone this year, as runners ascended all the way to the 36th floor for the first time, completing 720 steps to the top of the 137 meter tall Skytower Bucharest. The race attracted 711 participants from 13 countries, including 37 elite athletes from 11 nations. It was the first time that professional runners were welcome to compete in this race. This was the sixth edition of the race, and as every year, each registration supported charity, contributing to the four causes chosen for 2025: Climb Again, Mia’s Children, SOS Children’s Villages Romania, and Autism Voice. Austria’s Annemarie Wilhelm and Croatia’s Ivan Vuletić captured first place while setting new course records for this expanded route.

Shanghai Tower Grand Finale (November 22, 2025)

The season’s grand finale, the eighth and final race of the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025, took athletes to the Shanghai Tower, for the tallest indoor stair race in the world! The runners faced 119 floors, 3,398 steps, and 552 vertical meters inside the 632 meter tall tower, currently the third tallest in the world. The 2025 edition marked the sixth running of the event and delivered an unforgettable final showdown. Tea Faber of Croatia and Wai Chin Soh of Malaysia earned the top spots in Shanghai. Their victories also secured their positions as the year-end number ones in the TWA Towerrunning Tour 2025, marking an extraordinary achievement for both athletes.

Closing the 2025 Season

With the Shanghai Tower race now complete, the WFGT Towerrunning Challenge 2025 officially comes to a close. It has been a season marked by milestone achievements across eight extraordinary towers. The world’s vertical athletes proved once again that the spirit of tower running continues to grow with each passing year. We would like to take a moment to thank all participating WFGT members, the athletes, and everyone that participated in organizing these wonderful events!

Stay tuned, exciting updates for the 2026 WFGT Towerrunning Challenge are on the way. Stairs up! 🚀

World Federation of Great Towers

WFGT was founded in 1989 as a not-for-profit organization and showcases the great towers of the world, which have become symbols of their cities.