United States of America

In the history of the World Athletics Championships, which have been held since 1983, the United States has demonstrated overwhelming strength in many events such as sprints, throws, and jumps, and has won the most gold medals to date.

2 pieces

At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Japan won a total of two medals: a gold in the women’s javelin throw and a bronze in the men’s 35 km race walk. Although they narrowly missed medals in other events, the strong performances of Japanese athletes stood out across the board.

Kamehameha

Noah Lyles often strikes the “Kamehameha” pose—the signature move used by the protagonist of the popular Japanese anime Dragon Ball—after his races. This pose is also beloved by anime fans around the world.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt set an astonishing world record of 9.58 seconds in the men’s 100-meter final at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. This record still has not been broken, and Bolt is famous as the “fastest man alive.”

16 countries

As of 2023, the World Athletics Championships have been held in 16 countries. They began with the 1983 event in Helsinki, Finland, and the host locations have expanded year by year. A notable feature is that they’ve been held in a wide range of countries, including Japan, the United States, and Qatar.

49th event

As of 2025, the World Athletics Championships feature a total of 49 events across men’s and women’s competitions. This number has increased with the inclusion of traditional track and field disciplines, the recent introduction of the mixed relay, and the expansion of women’s events. Aiming for gender equality, the Championships have adjusted the event lineup, and a diverse range of events is now contested.

National Stadium

The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be held at the National Stadium in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The National Stadium is one of Japan’s premier sports venues, famous for serving as the main stadium for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.