The World Athletics Championship is a biennial competition that offers athletes the opportunity to push themselves beyond their limits and to achieve world class performances. The championships are organised by the International Association of Athletic Federations and feature track and field events for male and female athletes from all national federations that belong to the IAAF. The championships have been held since 1983, with a change to a biennial format in 1991. The championships feature many different disciplines: from the blink-and-you-miss-it sprints to the lung-busting 400m, from the mighty jumps to the precision of the throwing events, and the teamwork of the relays where smooth and synchronised transfer of the baton is crucial.
Last year in Eugene, there was a tremendous buzz about the sport as the 2022 World Athletics Championships took place at the historic Hayward Field. I, myself, turned into a track and field fan for the first time in my life, and it was partially due to the buzz in Eugene, but also because of how much passion and excitement the athletes displayed on their journey to the top. The speed, the specificity of their movements, the chest-pumping celebrations at the finish line – it was all so exciting and so much more than just running.
From the midnight marathon to a 4×400-metre mixed relay for the first time in history, there was a sense of pride and relief at Khalifa Stadium as the 2023 World Athletics Championships came to a close on Sunday. There were a total of 143 medals awarded and two world records broken. Despite an initial low turnout at the championships, a near-capacity crowd filled the stadium on the final day and, thanks to some very determined athletes, a sense of triumph prevailed.
