At the 1991 Summer Universiade, the athletics events were held at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield in the United Kingdom from July 19–25.

[1][2] Performances were of a high standard, particularly in the men's competition, with 6 Games records broken, with 1988 Olympic silver medalist Hollis Conway jumping 2.37 m in the high jump and home favourite Steve Backley throwing 87.42m in the javelin, both performances that remain Universiade records to this day.

Future Olympic champion Derrick Adkins won the 400 metre hurdles.

The Soviet Union won the next highest number of events, with six gold medallists, and 20 total medals.

Twenty-eight nations reached the medal table in the athletics competition.