The 2023 World Athletics Championship was held in Budapest and showcased a wide range of spellbinding performances from some of the sport’s greatest athletes. The nine-day event is jam-packed with 49 track and field events—24 for men, 24 for women, and one mixed-gender relay. The competition is a true bonanza for track and field fans, as the championships offer a strong preview for what to expect at the next year’s Olympics.
In addition to the sprints, which highlight athletes’ raw speed, the endurance events like the marathon and the 5000m are also highlights of the competition. The championships are held every two years, unlike the Summer Olympics, which are held every four. This allows more countries and their sport federations to hold their own national championships, which is important in keeping the sport on people’s radars.
The final lived up to its hype as a showdown for the ages. Greene blasted out of the blocks to take the lead and didn’t look back, winning with a blistering time of 9.86 seconds. Bailey ran a personal best of 9.91 to take silver, while Montgomery took bronze with a time of 9.94. Defending champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway stayed near the back for much of the race, but joined the lead pack with 700 meters to go and eventually placed a comfortable third.