200 metres at the World Athletics Championships

200 metres
at the World Athletics Championships
Overview
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 19832023
Women: 19832023
Championship record
Men19.19 Usain Bolt (2009)
Women21.41 Shericka Jackson (2023)
Reigning champion
Men Noah Lyles (USA)
Women Shericka Jackson (JAM)

The 200 metres at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. It is the second most prestigious title in the discipline after the 200 metres at the Olympics. The competition format typically has two or three qualifying rounds leading to a final between eight athletes.

The championship records for the event are 19.19 seconds for men, set by Usain Bolt in 2009, and 21.41 seconds for women, set by Shericka Jackson in 2023. The men's world record has been broken at the competition on one occasion, and Bolt's championship record set in 2009 remains the world record as of 2015.[1] The women's world record has never been broken at the competition.

Usain Bolt is the most successful athlete of the event, having won four successive titles from 2009 to 2015, and also a silver in 2007. Allyson Felix is the most successful woman, having won three straight titles (2005 to 2009). Two-time champion Merlene Ottey has won more medals in the 200 m than any other athlete, reaching the podium six times in a period stretching from 1983 to 1997. Calvin Smith and Michael Johnson are the only others to have won two world titles over the distance.

The United States is the most successful nation in the discipline, with twelve gold medals among a total of 31. Jamaica is the next most successful with seventeen medals and seven titles. East Germany and the Netherlands, with two golds, are the only other nations to have provided multiple gold medallists.

Age records

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Distinction Male Female
Athlete Age Date Athlete Age Date
Youngest champion  Noah Lyles (USA) 22 years, 75 days 1 Oct 2019  Allyson Felix (USA) 19 years, 267 days 12 Aug 2005
Youngest medalist  Erriyon Knighton (USA) 18 years, 173 days 21 Jul 2022  Allyson Felix (USA) 19 years, 267 days 12 Aug 2005
Youngest finalist  Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (JPN) 18 years, 157 days 10 Aug 2017  Shaunae Miller (BAH) 19 years, 123 days 16 Aug 2013
Youngest participant  Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (JPN) 16 years, 172 days 25 Aug 2015  Fowzio Abdikarim Sheikh (SOM) 15 years, 323 days 29 Aug 2007
Oldest champion  Usain Bolt (JAM) 29 years, 6 days 27 Aug 2015  Merlene Ottey (JAM) 35 years, 92 days 10 Aug 1995
Oldest medalist  Justin Gatlin (USA) 33 years, 198 days 27 Aug 2015  Merlene Ottey (JAM) 37 years, 90 days 8 Aug 1997
Oldest finalist  Frankie Fredericks (NAM) 35 years, 331 days 29 Aug 2003  Merlene Ottey (JAM) 37 years, 90 days 8 Aug 1997
Oldest participant  Troy Douglas (NED) 40 years, 270 days 27 Aug 2003  Merlene Ottey (SLO) 43 years, 108 days 26 Aug 2003

Doping

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The first instances of doping bans affecting the 200 m at the World Championships came at the 2001 edition. The champion Marion Jones was stripped of her gold medal and bronze medalist Kelli White met the same fate. Debbie Ferguson, the sole remaining original medalist, was elevated to the gold medal. A third female athlete, Yekaterina Leshchova who ran in the heats, was also disqualified for doping. The first male doping disqualifications happened the same year, with quarter-finalists Christophe Cheval and Ramon Clay being the offenders. Doping persisted at the 2003 World Championships – White was the champion that year and her retrospective ban also affected this result. The 1997 champion Zhanna Block, fourth in 2003, was also disqualified. Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (herself banned for steroids in 2004) was promoted to the position of 2003 world champion.[3][4]

The next 200 m athlete to be disqualified for doping was Ruqaya Al-Ghasra (a competitor in the heats only).[3] Two positive drug tests were recorded by 200 m athletes at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics: Yelena Ryabova, who ran in the heats, and semi-finalist Yelyzaveta Bryzhina.[5]

Medalists

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Men

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Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
 Calvin Smith (USA)  Elliott Quow (USA)  Pietro Mennea (ITA)
1987 Rome
details
 Calvin Smith (USA)  Gilles Quénéhervé (FRA)  John Regis (GBR)
1991 Tokyo
details
 Michael Johnson (USA)  Frankie Fredericks (NAM)  Atlee Mahorn (CAN)
1993 Stuttgart
details
 Frankie Fredericks (NAM)  John Regis (GBR)  Carl Lewis (USA)
1995 Gothenburg
details
 Michael Johnson (USA)  Frankie Fredericks (NAM)  Jeff Williams (USA)
1997 Athens
details
 Ato Boldon (TRI)  Frankie Fredericks (NAM)  Claudinei da Silva (BRA)
1999 Seville
details
 Maurice Greene (USA)  Claudinei da Silva (BRA)  Francis Obikwelu (NGR)
2001 Edmonton
details
 Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE)  Christopher Williams (JAM)  Kim Collins (SKN)
 Shawn Crawford (USA)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
 John Capel (USA)  Darvis Patton (USA)  Shingo Suetsugu (JPN)
2005 Helsinki
details
 Justin Gatlin (USA)  Wallace Spearmon (USA)  John Capel (USA)
2007 Osaka
details
 Tyson Gay (USA)  Usain Bolt (JAM)  Wallace Spearmon (USA)
2009 Berlin
details
 Usain Bolt (JAM)  Alonso Edward (PAN)  Wallace Spearmon (USA)
2011 Daegu
details
 Usain Bolt (JAM)  Walter Dix (USA)  Christophe Lemaitre (FRA)
2013 Moscow
details
 Usain Bolt (JAM)  Warren Weir (JAM)  Curtis Mitchell (USA)
2015 Beijing
details
 Usain Bolt (JAM)  Justin Gatlin (USA)  Anaso Jobodwana (RSA)
2017 London
details
 Ramil Guliyev (TUR)  Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)  Jereem Richards (TTO)
2019 Doha
details
 Noah Lyles (USA)  Andre De Grasse (CAN)  Álex Quiñónez (ECU)
2022 Eugene
details
 Noah Lyles (USA)  Kenny Bednarek (USA)  Erriyon Knighton (USA)
2023 Budapest
details
 Noah Lyles (USA)  Erriyon Knighton (USA)  Letsile Tebogo (BOT)

Medalists by country

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Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 11 7 8 26
2  Jamaica (JAM) 4 3 0 7
3  Namibia (NAM) 1 3 0 4
4  Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) 1 0 1 2
5  Greece (GRE) 1 0 0 1
 Turkey (TUR) 1 0 0 1
6  Brazil (BRA) 0 1 1 2
 Canada (CAN) 0 1 1 2
 France (FRA) 0 1 1 2
 Great Britain (GBR) 0 1 1 2
 South Africa (RSA) 0 1 1 2
7  Panama (PAN) 0 1 0 1
8  Botswana (BOT) 0 0 1 1
 Ecuador (ECU) 0 0 1 1
 Italy (ITA) 0 0 1 1
 Japan (JPN) 0 0 1 1
 Nigeria (NGR) 0 0 1 1
 Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) 0 0 1 1

Multiple medalists

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Rank Athlete Nation Period Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Usain Bolt  Jamaica (JAM) 2007–2015 4 1 0 5
2 Noah Lyles  United States (USA) 2019–2023 3 0 0 3
3 Calvin Smith  United States (USA) 1983–1987 2 0 0 2
Michael Johnson  United States (USA) 1995–1999 2 0 0 2
5 Frankie Fredericks  Namibia (NAM) 1991–1997 1 3 0 4
6 Justin Gatlin  United States (USA) 2005–2017 1 1 0 2
7 John Capel  United States (USA) 2003–2005 1 0 1 2
8 Wallace Spearmon  United States (USA) 2005–2009 0 1 2 3
9 John Regis  Great Britain (GBR) 1987–1993 0 1 1 2
Claudinei da Silva  Brazil (BRA) 1997–1999 0 1 1 2
Erriyon Knighton  United States (USA) 2022-2023 0 1 1 2

Women

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Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
 Marita Koch (GDR)  Merlene Ottey (JAM)  Kathy Smallwood-Cook (GBR)
1987 Rome
details
 Silke Gladisch (GDR)  Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)  Merlene Ottey (JAM)
1991 Tokyo
details
 Katrin Krabbe (GER)  Gwen Torrence (USA)  Merlene Ottey (JAM)
1993 Stuttgart
details
 Merlene Ottey (JAM)  Gwen Torrence (USA)  Irina Privalova (RUS)
1995 Gothenburg
details
 Merlene Ottey (JAM)  Irina Privalova (RUS)  Galina Malchugina (RUS)
1997 Athens
details
 Zhanna Pintusevich-Block (UKR)  Susanthika Jayasinghe (SRI)  Merlene Ottey (JAM)
1999 Seville
details
 Inger Miller (USA)  Beverly McDonald (JAM)  Merlene Frazer (JAM)
 Andrea Philipp (GER)
2001 Edmonton
details
 Debbie Ferguson (BAH)  LaTasha Jenkins (USA)  Cydonie Mothersille (CAY)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
 Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (RUS)  Torri Edwards (USA)  Muriel Hurtis (FRA)
2005 Helsinki
details
 Allyson Felix (USA)  Rachelle Boone-Smith (USA)  Christine Arron (FRA)
2007 Osaka
details
 Allyson Felix (USA)  Veronica Campbell (JAM)  Susanthika Jayasinghe (SRI)
2009 Berlin
details
 Allyson Felix (USA)  Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)  Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (BAH)
2011 Daegu
details
 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)  Carmelita Jeter (USA)  Allyson Felix (USA)
2013 Moscow
details
 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)  Murielle Ahouré (CIV)  Blessing Okagbare (NGR)
2015 Beijing
details
 Dafne Schippers (NED)  Elaine Thompson (JAM)  Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM)
2017 London
details
 Dafne Schippers (NED)  Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CIV)  Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)
2019 Doha
details
 Dina Asher-Smith (GBR)  Brittany Brown (USA)  Mujinga Kambundji (SUI)
2022 Eugene
details
 Shericka Jackson (JAM)  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)  Dina Asher-Smith (GBR)
2023 Budapest
details
 Shericka Jackson (JAM)  Gabrielle Thomas (USA)  Sha'Carri Richardson (USA)

Medalists by country

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Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Jamaica (JAM) 6 6 5 17
2  United States (USA) 4 9 2 15
3  East Germany (GDR) 2 0 0 2
 Netherlands (NED) 2 0 0 2
4  Germany (GER) 1 0 1 2
5  Russia (RUS) 1 1 2 4
6  Bahamas (BAH) 1 0 2 3
 Great Britain (GBR) 1 0 2 3
7  Ukraine (UKR) 1 0 0 1
8  Ivory Coast (CIV) 0 2 0 2
9  Sri Lanka (SRI) 0 1 1 2
10  France (FRA) 0 0 2 2
11  Cayman Islands (CAY) 0 0 1 1
  Switzerland (SUI) 0 0 1 1
 Nigeria (NGR) 0 0 1 1

Multiple medalists

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Rank Athlete Nation Period Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Allyson Felix  United States (USA) 2005–2011 3 0 1 4
2 Merlene Ottey  Jamaica (JAM) 1983–1997 2 1 3 6
3 Veronica Campbell-Brown  Jamaica (JAM) 2007–2015 1 2 1 4
4 Dafne Schippers  Netherlands (NED) 2015–2017 2 0 0 2
Shericka Jackson  Jamaica (JAM) 2022-2023 2 0 0 2
6 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce  Jamaica (JAM) 2013–2022 1 1 0 2
7 Debbie Ferguson  Bahamas (BAH) 2001–2009 1 0 1 2
Dina Asher-Smith  Great Britain (GBR) 2019–2022 1 0 1 2
9 Gwen Torrence  United States (USA) 1991–1993 0 2 0 2
10 Irina Privalova  Russia (RUS) 1993–1995 0 1 1 2
Susanthika Jayasinghe  Sri Lanka (SRI) 1997–2007 0 1 1 2

Championship record progression

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Men

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Men's 200 metres World Championships record progression[6]
Time Athlete Nation Year Round Date
20.95 Frank Emmelmann  East Germany (GDR) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
20.80 Pietro Mennea  Italy (ITA) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
20.76 Carlo Simionato  Italy (ITA) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
20.75 Carlo Simionato  Italy (ITA) 1983 Quarter-finals 1983-08-12
20.68 Pietro Mennea  Italy (ITA) 1983 Quarter-finals 1983-08-12
20.29 Calvin Smith  United States (USA) 1983 Semi-finals 1983-08-12
20.14 Calvin Smith  United States (USA) 1983 Final 1983-08-12
20.05 Michael Johnson  United States (USA) 1991 Quarter-finals 1991-08-26
20.01 Michael Johnson  United States (USA) 1991 Final 1991-08-27
19.85 Frankie Fredericks  Namibia (NAM) 1993 Final 1993-08-20
19.79 Michael Johnson  United States (USA) 1995 Final 1995-08-11
19.76 Tyson Gay  United States (USA) 2007 Final 2007-08-30
19.19 WR Usain Bolt  Jamaica (JAM) 2009 Final 2009-08-20

Women

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Women's 200 metres World Championships record progression[7]
Time Athlete Nation Year Round Date
23.34 Joan Baptiste  Great Britain (GBR) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
23.05 Florence Griffith Joyner  United States (USA) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
23.01 Randy Givens  United States (USA) 1983 Heats 1983-08-12
22.78 Kathy Smallwood-Cook  Great Britain (GBR) 1983 Quarter-finals 1983-08-12
22.38 Merlene Ottey  Jamaica (JAM) 1983 Quarter-finals 1983-08-12
22.13 Marita Koch  East Germany (GDR) 1983 Final 1983-08-14
21.74 Silke Möller  East Germany (GDR) 1987 Final 1987-09-03
21.63 Dafne Schippers  Netherlands (NED) 2015 Final 2015-08-28
21.45 Shericka Jackson  Jamaica (JAM) 2022 Final 2022-07-21
21.41 Shericka Jackson  Jamaica (JAM) 2023 Final 2023-08-25

Finishing times

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Top ten fastest World Championship times

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References

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  1. ^ IAAF World Championships: IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, pp. 595–6 (archived). IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-07-06.
  2. ^ "World Athletics Championships - Budapest 23 Statistical Booklet" (PDF). www.worldathletics.org: 42–45.
  3. ^ a b Butler 2013, p. 67–9.
  4. ^ "Kapachinskaya given ban". 2004-05-29. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  5. ^ "More than 1900 blood samples collected – Moscow 2013 | PRESS-RELEASE | World Athletics". www.worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  6. ^ "Track and Field Statistics". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  7. ^ "Track and Field Statistics". trackfield.brinkster.net. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  8. ^ "Men's 200m".
  9. ^ "Women's 200m".

Bibliography

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