The World Athletics Championships is the premier global stage for track and field, evolving from its inaugural edition in Helsinki in 1983 to the highly anticipated Tokyo 2025 edition scheduled for 13–21 September at Japan National Stadium, with more than 2000 athletes from about 200 countries expected to compete. Tokyo will host the championships for the second time—after 1991—bringing the event back to one of the sport’s most historic venues and audiences.
Quick facts
- Official name: World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25; dates: 13–21 September 2025; venue: Japan National Stadium; organizer: World Athletics with JAAF.
- First official championships: Helsinki 1983; earlier limited world events held in 1976 and 1980 to cover non-Olympic events.
- Cycle: Initially quadrennial (1983–1987), then biennial from 1991; related updates include the new World Athletics Ultimate Championship from 2026 (even years).
Origins and formation
The World Athletics Championships emerged from the need to provide a global platform independent of the Olympic program, particularly after the men’s 50 km walk was dropped from the 1976 Olympics, prompting the IAAF (now World Athletics) to stage its own world competition for that event in Malmö in 1976. A second limited event followed in 1980 for women’s 400m hurdles and 3000m, and the inaugural full championships were approved in 1978, awarded to Helsinki in 1980, and successfully launched in 1983 at the Olympic Stadium. Visionaries like Adriaan Paulen and partners including West Nally helped professionalize and finance the event in a period of Olympic boycotts, ensuring broad participation and broadcast reach for the fledgling championships.
The first edition: Helsinki 1983
Helsinki 1983 featured 1,333 athletes from 153 countries, immediately establishing the scale and gravity of the championships beyond a conventional meet. Unforgettable moments included Carl Lewis winning the 100m and long jump and anchoring the USA to a 4x100m world record in 37.86, while Finland’s Tiina Lillak captured javelin gold with a dramatic final throw, igniting the home crowd. Jarmila Kratochvílová set a women’s 400m world record of 47.99 that still stands—one of the championships’ most iconic marks from the opening edition.
Evolution to a modern mega-event
Originally held every four years (1983, 1987), the championships adopted a biennial cycle from 1991 to deepen global engagement and athlete opportunities between Olympic Games. The program steadily expanded women’s events—adding the 10,000m and 10 km walk in 1987, triple jump in 1993, pole vault and hammer in 1999, 3000m steeplechase in 2005, and most recently the mixed 4x400m relay in 2019 and 35 km race walk replacing 50 km in 2022—reflecting a commitment to parity and modernity. By 2023 in Budapest, participation reached over 200 nations and more than 2,100 athletes, underlining the championships’ status as one of the world’s largest multi-national sporting spectacles.
Notable editions and iconic moments
- Tokyo 1991 delivered two of the greatest performances in history: Mike Powell’s 8.95m long jump world record and Carl Lewis’s 9.86 in the 100m, alongside a U.S. men’s 4x100m world record in 37.50, cementing Tokyo’s place in athletics lore.
- Berlin 2009 became synonymous with Usain Bolt’s 9.58 100m and 19.19 200m world records, redefining the sprinting ceiling for a new generation of fans and athletes.
- Budapest 2023 introduced the mixed 4x400m world record of 3:08.80 by the United States and saw the U.S. top the medal table once again, showcasing depth across track and field.
World records at the championships
World records have punctuated the championships since 1983, where both Jarmila Kratochvílová (women’s 400m) and the USA men’s 4x100m set inaugural marks amid a new era for global track and field. Peaks of record-breaking came in 1993, and legendary achievements include Michael Johnson’s 43.18 for 400m (1999), Ashton Eaton’s 9045 decathlon points (2015), and Armand Duplantis’s 6.21m pole vault (2022). The most recent world record came in the mixed 4x400m relay in 2023, with the United States clocking 3:08.80, underlining the event’s continuing capacity for epochal performances.
Championship format and events
The World Athletics Championships is the highest level of senior outdoor athletics outside the Olympics, incorporating sprints, distance running, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws, combined events, and road disciplines like the marathon and race walks. The Tokyo 2025 program spans the full roster of events, including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m steeplechase, sprint and long hurdles, 4x100m and 4x400m plus the mixed 4x400m relay, all horizontal and vertical jumps, throws, heptathlon, decathlon, 20 km and 35 km race walks, and the marathon. Condensed into nine days, the championships balance heats, semis, and finals across morning and evening sessions to optimize athlete recovery, stadium atmosphere, and global broadcast windows.
Women’s event parity and program changes
The championships have been a driver of parity, steadily incorporating women’s events to mirror the men’s program and to reflect evolving standards and participation globally. Major milestones included adding the women’s 10,000m and 10 km walk in 1987, the triple jump in 1993, the pole vault and hammer in 1999, the 3000m steeplechase in 2005, and the women’s 50 km walk in 2017 before both genders shifted to 35 km walks in 2022. The mixed 4x400m relay, introduced in 2019, highlights innovation and inclusion while energizing the session structure with team strategy and gender balance.
All-time medal dominance
The United States leads the all-time World Athletics Championships medal table with 195 golds and 443 total medals, reflecting unmatched depth across sprints, relays, jumps, and multi-events. Kenya, Jamaica, Germany, Ethiopia, and Great Britain & Northern Ireland round out the leading nations historically, showing the event’s strong reach across continents and specialties. Japan, the host nation for 2025, has earned 35 total medals to date, and will aim to leverage home conditions in Tokyo to add to that tally.
Editions and hosts at a glance
The championships have traveled globally, often returning to historic stadiums—Helsinki’s Olympiastadion (1983 and 2005) and Tokyo’s National Stadium (1991 and 2025)—as the event rotates to balance tradition and new markets. Recent and upcoming editions include Doha 2019, Eugene 2022, Budapest 2023, Tokyo 2025, and Beijing 2027, signposting a broad geographic footprint from the Middle East to North America, Europe, and Asia. Growth is also institutional, with World Athletics launching the World Athletics Ultimate Championship from 2026 in even years to complement the biennial championships.
Sample editions overview
| Edition | City (Year) | Venue | Nations | Athletes | Notes |
| 1st | Helsinki (1983) | Olympiastadion | 153 | 1,333 | Historic debut; multiple signature performances. |
| 3rd | Tokyo (1991) | National Stadium | 162 | 1,491 | Powell’s 8.95m LJ WR; Lewis 9.86 100m; US 4x100m WR. |
| 17th | Doha (2019) | Khalifa Stadium | 206 | 1,775 | Mixed 4x400m introduced; multiple records. |
| 19th | Budapest (2023) | National Athletics Centre | 202 | 2,187 | US tops medal table; mixed 4x400m WR. |
| 20th | Tokyo (2025) | Japan National Stadium | TBA | TBA | Second time in Tokyo; 13–21 September. |
Road to Tokyo 2025
Tokyo 2025 will run 13–21 September 2025 at the Japan National Stadium, returning the championships to a city deeply woven into athletics history and spectacle. The program will span nine days of competition, with the full slate of track, field, road, and combined events scheduled across morning and evening sessions. More than 2000 athletes from roughly 200 countries are expected, promising a festival of world champions, rising stars, and national heroes on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
Tokyo 2025: events, schedule, and format
The Tokyo 2025 event list includes all marquee sprints and distance races, both hurdles disciplines, classic relays, mixed relay, the four jumps and four throws, combined events, marathons, and 20 km/35 km race walks—bringing full parity and breadth to the program. The official timetable is staged across nine days, with strategic morning finals for road events and evening spotlight finals in the stadium for prime-time global audiences. Host organizers Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) work with World Athletics to deliver venue operations and athlete services at the Japan National Stadium and designated road courses.
Stars and storylines to watch
- Sprinting: Jamaica and the United States traditionally dominate 100m/200m and relays, with historical benchmarks set by Usain Bolt and repeated medal success by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shaping expectations for sprint showdowns.
- Middle/long distance: Kenya and Ethiopia anchor endurance races, complemented by strong European and North American contenders across 1500m to 10,000m and the marathon.
- Field events: Global parity is strongest here—expect fireworks in the pole vault, triple jump, and throws, where recent championship world records and deep all-time lists keep these finals compelling.
Medal trends heading into Tokyo
The United States topped the Budapest 2023 medal table with 29 medals, reaffirming a deep bench, while European powers and African distance nations balanced the podium across events. Historically, the U.S. leads the all-time table, with Kenya, Jamaica, Germany, Ethiopia, and Great Britain & Northern Ireland forming a consistent chasing group, reflecting diverse strengths by discipline. Host nation Japan aims to capitalize on local support and familiarity with the National Stadium to pursue additional medals in front of home fans.
All-time medal table (top 10)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 195 | 134 | 114 | 443 |
| 2 | Kenya | 65 | 58 | 48 | 171 |
| 3 | Russia | 42 | 52 | 48 | 142 |
| 4 | Jamaica | 40 | 61 | 48 | 149 |
| 5 | Germany | 39 | 36 | 48 | 123 |
| 6 | Ethiopia | 35 | 38 | 31 | 104 |
| 7 | Great Britain & N.I. | 33 | 40 | 48 | 121 |
| 8 | Soviet Union | 23 | 27 | 28 | 78 |
| 9 | China | 22 | 26 | 27 | 75 |
| 10 | Cuba | 22 | 25 | 16 | 63 |
Tokyo’s heritage in the championships
Tokyo last hosted in 1991 and delivered some of the sport’s most cherished moments, including Mike Powell’s 8.95m long jump world record over Carl Lewis in an all-time duel. That same edition saw Carl Lewis run 9.86 in the 100m and the U.S. set a 37.50 in the men’s 4x100m, underlining how Tokyo conditions can produce headline performances. The return in 2025 to an upgraded Japan National Stadium continues this rich lineage of record-breaking and rivalry.
Governance, partners, and commercialization
World Athletics oversees the championships in partnership with the local organizing committee, with commercial partners like timing specialists and long-standing sponsors supporting broadcast-grade delivery. The 1980s commercialization wave, catalyzed by figures like Patrick Nally and partners such as TDK and Seiko, helped establish the modern funding template that sustains the championships’ global footprint today. Across decades, this model enabled increasing athlete services, world-class venues, and reliable global transmission, which have become synonymous with the event.
Broadcasting and how to watch
The championships’ schedule is optimized for global television, with evening finals in host time zones and morning road events to capture wide audiences. Regional rights-holders, including public broadcasters in many markets, carry live and on-demand coverage; in parts of Europe, Eurovision Sport provides coverage information and guidance to fans. The World Athletics event site will list detailed session times and updates for Tokyo 2025, which is the authoritative portal for official competition information.
Practical planning for Tokyo 2025
- Dates and location: 13–21 September 2025, Japan National Stadium (and associated road courses) in Tokyo.
- Sessions: Morning/evening sessions with a nine-day timetable published via the official event portal.
- Tickets: Organizers emphasize purchasing through official channels to avoid fraud; watch the event site and authorized ticketing pages for releases.
Why Tokyo 2025 matters
Tokyo 2025 reunites a tradition-rich host city with a modernized venue and a new generation of global stars primed for championship breakthroughs. The edition follows record-setting years in 2022 and 2023, indicating fertile conditions for elite performance across sprints, endurance, jumps, and throws. With more than 2000 athletes and approximately 200 delegations, the spectacle will capture global attention on and off the track.
FAQs
When and where are the World Athletics Championships 2025?
They run 13–21 September 2025 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
How many days and sessions are there?
Tokyo 2025 spans nine days with morning and evening sessions across a complete championship timetable published on the official portal.
What events are on the Tokyo 2025 program?
All standard track, field, combined, and road events appear, including 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 3000m steeplechase, hurdles, 4x100m, 4x400m, mixed 4x400m, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer, javelin, heptathlon, decathlon, 20 km and 35 km race walks, and the marathon.
Has Tokyo hosted the championships before?
Yes, Tokyo hosted in 1991 and will host again in 2025, reinforcing its historic status in world athletics.
How often are the championships held?
They were quadrennial in 1983 and 1987, and have been biennial since 1991; from 2026 a new World Athletics Ultimate Championship is set for even years to complement the cycle.
Which country leads the all-time medal table?
The United States leads with 195 gold and 443 total medals, followed by Kenya, Jamaica, Germany, Ethiopia, and Great Britain & Northern Ireland among the top performers.
What are some iconic championship world records?
Standouts include Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 47.99 (1983 women’s 400m), Mike Powell’s 8.95m (1991 men’s long jump), Michael Johnson’s 43.18 (1999 men’s 400m), Usain Bolt’s 9.58/19.19 (2009 sprints), and the USA’s 3:08.80 (2023 mixed 4x400m).
How can fans follow the schedule and watch live?
Use the official event timetable and information pages for exact session times and updates, while regional broadcasters and organizations like Eurovision Sport provide access and viewing guidance by territory.
How large is the championships in terms of participation?
Budapest 2023 saw over 200 nations and more than 2,100 athletes, and Tokyo 2025 is expected to welcome more than 2000 athletes from around 200 countries.
Where can official updates and announcements be found?
The World Athletics event site for Tokyo 2025 provides authoritative updates on scheduling, entries, and event information.
Conclusion
The World Athletics Championships have grown from a bold Helsinki debut in 1983 into a truly global, biennial showcase that unites history, innovation, and extraordinary performance—and Tokyo 2025 will extend that legacy with nine days of elite competition across a full program at Japan National Stadium from 13–21 September. Anchored by decades of record-breaking moments and broadened parity across events, the championships continue to elevate the sport, spotlighting established champions and emerging talents on a stage designed for unforgettable performances.
