2009 World Championships

2009 World Championships
Name	2009 World Championships
Host city	Berlin, Germany
Nations	200+
Athletes	2,101
Events	47
Dates	15–23 August
Opened by	Horst Köhler
Main venue	Olympiastadion
Previous	Osaka 2007
Next	Daegu 2011

2009 World Championships were the 12th edition of the premier global track and field competition, officially known as the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. Held in Berlin, Germany, from 15 to 23 August, the event was organized under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The championships featured over 2,100 athletes from more than 200 member federations competing across 47 events, with the Berlin Olympiastadion serving as the central venue.

Background and bidding

The IAAF awarded the hosting rights for the 12th World Championships to Berlin during its council meeting in Paris in 2004. The German bid, promoted by Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband (DLV) and backed by the Federal Government of Germany, prevailed over competing candidacies from cities like Split and Valencia. This decision continued a trend of major athletics events being held in Europe, following the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg. The selection of Berlin was seen as a symbolic gesture, utilizing the historic Olympiastadion, originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, to showcase a modern, unified Germany.

Venues and organization

The primary competition venue was the renovated Olympiastadion, which also hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup final. A temporary warm-up track was constructed adjacent to the main stadium in the Maifeld area. Organization was led by the local organizing committee, Berlin 2009 GmbH, in close cooperation with the IAAF and the German Olympic Sports Confederation. Key supporting infrastructure included the Berlin Hauptbahnhof for transport and the Hotel Adlon for official delegations, ensuring smooth operations throughout the nine-day event.

Participating nations

A record 200+ national member federations of the IAAF entered athletes, with notable full-strength teams from the United States, Russia, Jamaica, and host nation Germany. The Athletics Kenya team was particularly strong in distance events, while smaller delegations from nations like Panama and Bahrain also competed. Several athletes participated under the IAAF's Authorised Neutral Athletes banner due to their national federation's suspension. The opening ceremony featured a traditional parade of nations through the Olympiastadion.

Sports and schedule

The schedule comprised the standard 47 events (24 for men, 23 for women) across track and field disciplines, including the marathon and racewalking. The marathon courses were routed through central Berlin, passing landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten. Competition sessions were typically held in morning and evening slots, with preliminary rounds in events like the 100 metres and long jump preceding finals. The program concluded with the men's 4 × 400 metres relay final on the evening of 23 August.

Medal table and summary

The United States topped the medal table with 10 gold medals, aided by victories from athletes like Brittney Reese in the women's long jump. Jamaica, led by Usain Bolt, finished second with 7 golds, while Kenya placed third. Host nation Germany won 4 medals, including a gold in the women's javelin throw by Steffi Nerius. In total, 33 different nations won at least one medal, with Poland, Ethiopia, and Great Britain also featuring prominently on the table.

Notable performances and records

The championships were highlighted by extraordinary world records. Usain Bolt of Jamaica set new global marks in the 100 metres (9.58 seconds) and 200 metres (19.19 seconds), performances widely considered among the greatest in athletics history. Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia completed a memorable 5000/10,000m double, while Anita Włodarczyk of Poland set a women's hammer throw world record. Other standout athletes included Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States, who won the 400 metres, and Blanka Vlašić of Croatia, who claimed the high jump title.

Legacy and impact

The success of the event solidified Berlin's reputation as a premier host for major international sports, influencing the city's subsequent bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The performances, particularly those of Usain Bolt, generated unprecedented global media coverage for track and field, boosting the sport's profile ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The championships also left a lasting infrastructure legacy, including upgrades to the Olympiastadion and surrounding facilities, which continued to be used by clubs like Hertha BSC. The event is often cited as a benchmark for organization and athletic excellence within the IAAF World Championships in Athletics series.

Category:2009 in athletics (track and field) Category:International athletics competitions hosted by Germany Category:2009 in German sport Category:August 2009 sports events