World Athletics Championships
David Chelly, January 13, 2026
What is the competition about?
The World Athletics Championships, organized by World Athletics, bring together the world's elite on track, on the road and in the field every two years. After the Olympic Games, this is the benchmark event for an athlete's record, with 49 events and a level of depth rarely matched.
Key facts for 2025 and 2027
The last edition was held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21, 2025. The next will take place in Beijing from September 11 to 19, 2027, at the National Stadium, with the calendar placed at the end of the season, in the September window.
What happens over nine days
Heats, semi-finals and finals follow one another over several daily sessions, with technical events, relays, middle- and long-distance races, and field events where every attempt counts. Nations chase medals as much as finalist spots, since these reflect the depth of a squad beyond a single star.
The 100m, the symbol
In Tokyo in 2025, the men's 100m world title was won by Oblique Seville in 9.77s. In the women's event, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won gold in 10.61s, setting a championship record.
Records to know
The record for men's world gold medals belongs to Usain Bolt with 11 gold medals. The record for the most total medals belongs to Allyson Felix with 20 medals.