List of World Athletics Championships records

The World Athletics Championships is a biennial event which began in 1983.

World, area, and national records have been set at the championships over the course of its history.

Competitors at the World Championships come from around the globe and records have been broken by athletes from all six continents.

The United States has been the most successful competitor at the World Championships in both medals and records.

Four athletes hold multiple records: not ratified or later rescinded by World Athletics Statistics are correct as of August 2023 Statistics are correct as of August 2023

Athletes competing at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium where the first and tenth editions of the Championships were staged.
Colin Jackson broke the 110 metre hurdles world record in 1993; a record which stood for over a decade.
Mike Powell 's world record long jump at the 1991 Championships has never been bettered.
Double record holder Michael Johnson has held the 400 metres world record with his run in Seville for over 20 years.
Tirunesh Dibaba was only 20 when she won two gold medals and set the 5000 metres record.
Yelena Isinbayeva broke the pole vault world record for the thirteenth time in 2005.