​Started in 1983, the IAAF's World Championships are the largest event for global track and field outside of the Olympic Games. Not only serving as the highlight of competition for athletics in between the Games, they often are looked upon as a specific Games preview. This especially holds true for the  Championships editions held the year right before an Olympics.

With that in mind, I take a look back at previous Championships to glimpse at how well Worlds medalists are able to finish on the podium at the following Olympics. Although Championships did start on a biennial schedule in 1993, with the first edition held after a Games, I'll focus more attention on those editions which occur right before.

Read previous IAAF World Champs Retrospective entries here:

• Part 1 - the 80's
• Part 2 - the 90's​
• Part 4 - the 10's

VIII - Edmonton, 2001

Stats

• 1,677 athletes from 189 nations
• 46 events

Medal Table

1. Russia (18)
2. United States (13)
3. Kenya and Ethiopia (8 each)

Highlights

• These were the first Championships in the Americas
• Lars Riedel (GER) won his sixth Worlds medal (fifth gold)
• There were no world records established at the meet
• Overall, eight championship records were set across all events (five of which were in men's field events)

There are some repeat gold medalists between the '00 Games and these '01 Championships:

• Maurice Greene (USA) in the 100m
• Konstantinos Kenteris (GRE) in the 200m
• Reuben Kosgei (KEN) in the 3000m steeplechase
• Robert Korzeniowski (POL) in the 50km walk
• Ivan Pedroso (CUB) in the long jump
• Jonathan Edwards (GBR) in the triple jump
• Szymon Ziowtkowski (POL) in the hammer throw
• Jan Zelezny (CZE) in the javelin
• Maria Mutola (MOZ) in the 800m
• Derartu Tulu (ETH) in the 10,000m
• Stacy Dragila (USA) in the pole vault
• Yanina Karolchik (BLR) in the shot put
• Ellina Zvereva (BLR) in the discus

IX - Paris, 2003

Stats

• 1,679 athletes from 198 nations
• 46 events

Medal Table

1. Russia (19)
2. United States (16)
3. France (8)

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Highlights

• Robert Korzeniowski (POL) won his fourth Worlds medal (and third gold) in the 50km walk
• For the second Championships in a row, no world records were established
• Overall, only five championship records were set across the competition, all in women's (and four of which were track /road events)

How the Olympic medal podiums the following year (2004 Athens) compare

• Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS) and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) went from 2-3 to 1-2 in the 800m
• Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) repeated with gold in the 1500m
• Eliud Kipchoge (KEN), Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) and Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) went from 1-2-3 to 3-1-2 in the 5000m
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) and Sileshi Sihine (ETH) went from 1-3 to 1-2 in the 10,000m
• Stefano Baldini (ITA) went from bronze to gold in the marathon
• Terrence Trammell (USA) and Liu Xiang (CHN) went from 2-3 to 2-1 in the 110m hurdles
• Felix Sanchez (DOM) repeated with gold in the 400m hurdles
• Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) went from silver to gold in the 3000m steeplechase
• Paquillo Fernandez (ESP) repeated with silver in the 20km walk
• Robert Korzeniowski (POL) repeated with gold in the 50km walk
• USA went from gold to silver in the men's 4x100m relay
• Stefan Holm (SWE) went from silver to gold in the high jump
• Dwight Phillips (USA) repeated with gold in the long jump
• Christian Olsson (SWE) repeated with gold in the triple jump
• Giuseppe Gibilisco (ITA) went from gold to bronze in the pole vault
• Adam Nelson (USA) went from silver to gold in the shot put
• Virgiligus Alekan (LTU) repeated with gold in the discus
• Sergey Makarov (RUS) went from gold to bronze in the javelin
• Koji Murofushi (JPN) went from bronze to gold in the hammer throw
• Roman Seberle (CZE) and Dmitriy Karpov (KAZ) went from 2-3 to 1-3 in the decathlon
• Ana Guevara (MEX) went from gold to silver in the 400m
• Kelly Holmes (GBR) went from silver to gold in the 800m
• Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) went from gold to silver in the 1500m
• Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) went from gold to bronze in the 5000m
• Catherine Ndereba (KEN) and Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) went from 1-2 to 2-1 in the marathon
• FRA and RUS went from 1-3 to 3-2 in the women's 4x100m relay
• USA, RUS, JAM repeated as 1-2-3 in the women's 4x400m relay
• Hestrie Cloete (RSA) went from gold to silver in the high jump
• Tatyana Kotova (RUS) went from silver to bronze in the long jump
• Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) and Francois Mbango Etone (CMR) went from 1-2 to 3-1 in the triple jump
• Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) and Yelena Isbinaeva (RUS) went from 1-3 to 2-1 in the pole vault
• Anastasia Kelesidou (GRE) repeated with silver in the discus throw
• Yipsi Moreno (CUB) and Olga Kuzenkova (RUS) went from 1-2 to 2-1 in the hammer throw
• Mirela Manjani (GRE) and Steffi Nerius (GER) went from 1-3 to 3-2 in the javelin
• Carolina Kluft (SWE) repeated with gold in the heptathlon
• USA (25), RUS (19), ETH and KEN (7 each) were the top nations on the medal table

​X - Helsinki, 2005

Stats

• 1,891 athletes from 196 nations
• 47 events

Medal Table

1. United States (25)
2. Russia (18)
3. Ethiopia (9)

Highlights

• The Championships returned to their inaugural site for this tenth edition
• the women's 3000m steeplechase was added
• Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) wins his fourth Worlds medal (second gold) in the discus
• Again, no world records were established
• Overall, only four championship records were set across all events

There are some repeat gold medalists between the '04 Games and these '05 Championships:

• Justin Gatlin (USA) in the 100m
• Jeremy Wariner (USA) in the 400m
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) in the 10,000m
• USA in the men's 4x400m relay
• Dwight Phillips (USA) in the long jump
• Adam Nelson (USA) in the shot put
• Virgilijus Alekna (LTU) in the discus
• Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH) in the 400m
• Yelena Isbinaeva (RUS) in the pole vault
• Osleidys Menendez (CUB) in the javelin
• Carolina Kluft (SWE) in the heptathlon

​XI - Osaka, 2007

Stats

• 1,978 athletes from 200 nations
• 47 events

Medal Table

1. United States (23)
2. Russia (14)
3. Kenya (13)

Highlights

• The Championships return to Japan, after 1991's Tokyo edition
• Although over 1000 drug tests were performed, not one came back positive (at the time)
• The USA became the first nation to win all four relay events at the same Championships
• Tyson Gay (USA) and Allyson Felix (USA) became the fourth and fifth athletes to win three golds at one Championship, joining Carl Lewis (USA), Marita Koch (GDR), and Maurice Greene (USA)
• Jefferson Perez (ECU) won his third straight gold in the 20km walk (and fourth medal overall)
• No world records were established
• Overall, only two championship records were set across the competition

How the Olympic medal podiums the following year (2008 Beijing) compare

• Usain Bolt (JAM) went from silver to gold in the 200m
• Jeremy Wariner (USA) and Lashawn Merritt (USA) went from 1-2 to 2-1 in the 400m
• Alfred Kirwa Yego (KEN) went from gold to bronze in the 800m
• Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) repeated with silver in the 5000m
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) and Sileshi Sihine (ETH) repeated as 1-2 in the 10,000m
• Kerron Clement (USA) went from gold to silver in the 400m hurdles
• Brimin Kipruto (KEN) and Richard Mateelomng (KEN) repeated as 1-3 in the 3000m steeplechase
• Jefferson Perez (ECU) went from gold to silver in the 20km walk
• Alex Schwazer (ITA) went from bronze to gold in the 50km walk
• JAM went from silver to gold in the men's 4x100m relay
• USA and BAH repeated as 1-2 in the men's 4x400m relay
• Irving Saladino (PAN) repeated with gold in the long jump
• Nelson Evora (POR) repeated with gold in the triple jump
• Yaroslav Rybakov (RUS) went from silver to bronze in the high jump
• Gerd Kanter (EST) repeated with gold in the discus throw
• Tero Pitkamaki (FIN) and Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) went from 1-2 to 3-1 in the javelin
• Ivan Tsikhan (BLR) and Primoz Kozmus (SLO) went from 1-2 to 3-1 in the hammer throw
• Allyson Felix (USA) and Veronica Campbell (JAM) went from 1-2 to 2-1 in the 200m
• Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) repeated with gold in the 400m
• Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) and Hasna Benhassi (MAR) went from 1-2 to 2-3 in the 800m
• Meseret Defar (ETH) went from gold to bronze in the 5000m
• Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) and Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) repeated as 1-2 in the 10,000m
• Catherine Ndereba (KEN) went from gold to silver in the marathon
• Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) and Eunice Jepkorir (KEN) went from 1-3 to 3-2 in the 3000m steeplechase
• Olga Kaniskina (RUS) repeated with gold in the 20km walk
• BEL went from bronze to silver in the women's 4x100m relay
• USA and JAM went from 1-2 to 1-3 in the women's 4x400m relay
• Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) went from gold to silver in the long jump
• Tatyana Lebedeva (RUS) and Hrysopiyi Devetzi (GRE) repeated as 2-3 in the triple jump
• Blanka Vlasic (CRO) and Anna Chicherova (RUS) went from 1-2 to 2-3 in the high jump
• Yelena Isbinaeva (RUS) and Svetlana Feofanova (RUS) repeated as 1-3 in the pole vault
• Valerie Vili (NZL) and Nadezya Astapchuk (BLR) went from 1-2 to 1-3 in the shot put
• Yarelis Barrios (CUB) repeated with silver in the discus throw
• Barbara Spotakova (CZE) and Christine Obergfoll (GER) went from 1-2 to 1-3 in the javelin
• Yipsi Moreno (CUB) and Zhang Wenxiu (CHN) repeated as 2-3 in the hammer throw
• USA (25), RUS (19), ETH and KEN (7 each) were the top nations on the medal table

​XII - Berlin, 2009

Stats

• 2,101 athletes from 202 nations
• 47 events

Medal Table

1. United States (22)
2. Jamaica and Russia (13 each)

Highlights

• The first Championships with more than 2,000 athletes, from over 200 nations
• Usain Bolt (JAM) set two world records, 9.58 in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m
• Anita Wlodarczyk (POL) set a world record of 77.96 in the hammer throw
• Overall, eight championship records were set across all competition

There are some repeat gold medalists between the '08 Games and these '09 Championships:

• Usain Bolt (JAM) in the 100m
• Usain Bolt (JAM) in the 200m
• Lashawn Merritt (USA) in the 400m
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) in the 5000m
• Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) in the 10,000m
• Valeriy Borchin (RUS) in the 20km walk
• JAM in the men's 4x100m relay
• USA in the men's 4x400m relay
• Steven Hooker (AUS) in the pole vault
• Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) in the javelin
• Primoz Kozmus (SLO) in the hammer throw
• Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM) in the 100m
• Melaine Walker (JAM) in the 400m hurdles
• Olga Kaniskina (RUS) in the 20km walk
• USA in the women's 4x400m relay
• Valerie Vili (NZL) in the shot put

​​IV - Stuttgart, 1993

Stats

• 1,689 athletes from 187 nations
• 44 events

Medal Table

1. United States (25)
2. Russia (16)
3. Great Britain and Kenya (10 each)

Highlights

• The women's triple jump was added
• Colin Jackson set a world record of 12.91 in the 110m hurdles
• USA set a world record of 2.54.29 in the men's 4x400m relay
• Sally Gunnell (GBR) set a world record of 52.74 in the 400m hurdles
• Ana Biryukova (RUS) set a world record of 15.09 in the triple jump
• Overall, 14 championship records were set across all events

These Championships were the first to be held on the new biennial schedule, and held the year after the 1992 Games. There are some repeat gold medalists between the '92 Games and these '93 Championships:

• Linford Christie (GBR) in the 100m
• Kevin Young (US) in the 400m hurdles
• USA in both the men's 4x100 relay and men's 4x400 relay
• Mike Conley (USA) in the triple jump
• Javier Sotomayor (CUB) in the high jump
• Jan Zelezny (CZE) in the javelin
• Gail Devers (USA) in the 100m
• Sally Gunnell (GBR) in the 400m hurdles
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) in the heptathlon

​
​V - Gothenburg, 1995

Stats

• 1,804 athletes from 191 nations
• 44 events

Medal Table

1. United States (19)
2. Russia (12)
3. Belarus (7)

Highlights

• The women's 5000m was added, replacing the 3000m to match the men's track schedule
• Jonathan Edwards (GBR) set a world record of 18.29 in the triple jump
• Kim Batten (USA) set a world record of 52.61 in the 400m hurdles
• Inessa Kravets (UKR) set a world record of 15.50 in the triple jump
• Overall, 10 championship records were set across all events

How the Olympic medal podiums the following year (1996 Atlanta) compare

• Donovan Bailey (CAN) and Ato Boldon (TRI) repeated as 1-2 in the 100m
• Michael Johnson (USA) and Frankie Fredericks (NAM) repeated as 1-2 in the 200m
• Michael Johnson (USA) repeated with gold in the 400m
• Vebjorn Rodal (NOR) went from bronze to gold in the 800m
• Noureddine Morceli (ALG) repeated with gold in the 1500m
• Khalid Boulami (MAR) went from silver to bronze in the 5000m
• Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) and Paul Tergat (KEN) went from 1-3 to 1-2 in the 10,000m
• Allen Johnson (USA) repeated with gold in the 110m hurdles
• Derrick Adkins (USA) and Samuel Matete (ZAM) repeated as 1-2 in the 400m hurdles
• Moses Kiptanui (KEN) went from gold to silver in the 3000m steeplechase
• Robert Korzeniowski (POL) went from bronze to gold in the 50km walk
• CAN repeated with gold in the men's 4x100m relay
• USA and JAM went from 1-2 to 1-3 in the men's 4x400m relay
• James Beckford (JAM) repeated with silver in the long jump
• Jonathan Edwards (GBR) went from gold to silver in the triple jump
• Artur Partyka (POL) went bronze to silver in the high jump
• Jean Galfione (FRA) went from bronze to gold in the pole vault
• John Godina (USA) and Randy Barnes (USA) went from 1-3 to 2-1 in the shot put
• Lars Riedel (GER), Vladimir Dubrovschik (BLR), & Vasiliy Kaptyukh (BLR) repeated as 1-2-3 in the discus
• Jan Zelezny (CZE) and Steve Backley (GBR) repeated as 1-2 in the javelin
• Dan O'Brien (USA) repeated with gold in the decathlon
• Gwen Torrance (USA) and Merlene Ottey (JAM) went from 1-2 to 3-2 in the 100m
• Merlene Ottey (JAM) went from gold to silver in the 200m
• Marie-Jose Perec (FRA) repeated with gold in the 400m
• Ana Quirot (CUB) went from gold to silver in the 800m
• Fernanda Ribeiro (POR) repeated with gold in the 10,000m
• Kim Batten (USA), Tonja Buford (USA) and Deon Hemmings (JAM) went from 1-2-3 to 2-3-1 in the 400m hurdles
• Elisabeta Perrone (ITA) and Yelena Nikolayeva (RUS) went from 2-3 to 2-1 in the 10km walk
• USA and JAM went from 1-2 to 1-3 in the women's 4x100m relay
• USA repeated with gold in the women's 4x400m relay
• Fiona May (ITA) went from gold to silver in the long jump
• Inessa Kravets (UKR) repeated with gold in the triple jump
• Stefka Kostadinova (BUL) and Inha Babakova (UKR) repeated as 1-3 in the high jump
• Astrid Kumbernuss (GER) repeated with gold in the shot put
• Ellina Zvereva (BLR) and Ilke Wyludda (GER) went from 1-2 to 3-1 in the discus
• Ghada Shouaa (SYR) repeated with gold in the heptathlon
• USA (23), RUS (10), GER (7) were the top nations on the medal table

VI - Athens, 1997
​
Stats

• 1,882 athletes from 198 nations
• 44 events

Medal Table

1. United States (17)
2. Germany (10)
3. Russia (8)

Highlights

• Sergey Bubka (UKR) won his sixth-consecutive and final Worlds gold in the pole vault
• Merlene Ottey (JAM) won her fourteenth Worlds medal, a bronze in the 200m
• Javier Sotomayor (CUB) won his fourth Worlds medal, a gold in the high jump
• Ana Quirot (CUB) won her third-straight medal in the 800m, a gold
• For the first time, no world records were set at the World Championships
• Overall, only 3 championship records were set across all events

These Championships were the second to be held on the new biennial schedule, and held the year after the 1996 Games. There are some repeat gold medalists between the '96 Games and these '97 Championships:

• Michael Johnson (USA) in the 400m
• Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) in the 10,000m
• Allen Johnson (USA) in the 110m hurdles
• Robert Korzeniowski (POL) in the 50km walk
• CAN in the men's 4x100 relay
• Lars Riedel (GER) in the discus throw
• Ludmila Engquist (SWE) in the 110m hurdles
• USA in the women's 4x100m relay
• Astrid Kumbernuss (GER) in the shot put

Tokyo 2020 Hears from New Sports
After announcing the finalists for inclusion into the Olympic program, Tokyo 2020 organizers this week heard from each of the eight in their final presentations. The next step  = September 2015, Tokyo 2020 will make a recommendation to the IOC on which, if any, to schedule. Sports under consideration are squash, baseball / softball, karate, surfing, wushu, sport climbing, and roller sports.

And Fends off Plagiarism Charges
When you put on a globally important and visibly impactful event worth billions, you're sure to get lots of attention, including from many looking to capitalize on a connection. That said, you can't deny a similarity between the new Tokyo 2020 logo and a long-standing design mark. The problem for Olivier Debie, the designer for the Theatre de Liege, is that apparently his mark was never registered as a trademark. (Business 101, kids...and mighty convenient for Tokyo 2020).

The Indian Ocean Games End
The latest multi-sport Games events ended this weekend, with the closing of the 2015 Indian Ocean Island Games. As the name suggests, its the exclusive sporting opportunity for the nations of the Indian Ocean, such as Mauritius, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Host Reunion finishes on top the medal table, with 209, across traditional Games disciples such as athletics, swimming, tennis, and badminton.

Brazil Hosts the Rowing Junior Worlds
Another event in the lead-up to the Olympics, the World Junior Rowing Championships were held this week in Rio. Traditional power in the sport Germany led the medalists, with 11 overall, followed by Italy and the USA with five each.

The Swimming Worlds End
Also closing this weekend were the World Aquatic Championships. Lots of storylines shone through during this past second week of the tournament - host Kazan's solidifying success in sports hosting, the 12 world records set in swimming, the increasing popularity of mixed gender relays - but the star of the pool was definitely Katie Ledecky of the USA. Winning four golds, in the 200 / 400 / 800 / 1500 freestyle, she evoked legends Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, and carried the U.S. team. While she was winning her individual events, traditional giant of the pool, the U.S. had a relatively quiet presence. The American medal total - 23 - was lower than the 29 earned at both the 2011 and 2013 editions, and, aside from Ledecky, only Ryan Lochte in the 200individual medley earned an individual gold for the U.S. Meanwhile, China had three individual gold medalists, including Ning Zetao in the highlight 100m freestyle. Also, Hungary, Great Britain, and Australia matched the U.S. in having two swimmers reach gold. In all, 23 different nations won at least one medal - including Argentina, Singapore, and Jamaica. I'm always for the diversity of sport, and enjoy watching the new faces from unexpected corners emerge, but this was striking to see, and it will be interesting to watch how the U.S. responds next year in Rio. Then, living legend Phelps should be back on the team to help Ledecky carry the haul. Their anticipated combined success may mask the overall team performance...

The Big News
Faced between only two options of which neither were very good, the IOC narrowly selected Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics over Almaty. While the Kazakh choice provided an opportunity to showcase Central Asia, the rising power there, and a venue more in line with a traditional close, natural winter setting, the Games now go to a hosting city that does not much - if any - snow during the winter, and in which the venues will be spread out miles and miles away from the actual host. What Beijing has in its favor is that China certainly has in its power the ability to create snow, and move people and earth, inhumanely or un-environmentally or not, to put on an organized show. Even if it were to have been Almaty, it also means that Asia - between Pyeongchang '18, Tokyo '20, and now Beijing '22 - will now host three straight Olympics. That's a streak the IOC usually avoids, but there was no way around it. And, Beijing will become the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Games. In the larger picture, that also showcases the larger roles China and Asia are having in geo-politics these days, and certainly more so by the time 2022 comes around. And who knows anyway - maybe by that time, global warming may make a man-made snow venue for the Games not all that strange.

No Boston
While Beijing celebrated their win, the organizers of No Boston celebrated their own victory, when Boston stepped down as a 2024 candidate city. The bid was unpopular from the start within the city, and - depending on who you believe - either the objectors won when the mayor declined to authorize insurance, or the USOC decided to pull the plug before too late anyway. In its own bid to save some face, the USOC now looks to maybe LA or San Francisco (or both?) to submit a bid. With a crowded and prominent field of candidates already, the USOC may be better off saving energy for 2026 or '28, when the Boston bad taste might not be there...

Sweden Closes UEFA's of Summer of Internationals
In Netanya, Sweden won their second-ever women's U-19 title in UEFA competition, in a 3-1 victory over Spain. Unfortunately for the Spaniards, Sweden's first title came in 2012, also against Spain. This is also Sweden's second Euro title this summer alone, with the men's U-21 team also taking that tournament title in June.

France Wins World Junior Handball
France won the World Junior title in men's handball in Brazil, after a 26-24 win against Denmark in the final. This continues a strong tradition in the sport for the French, with the senior team having won the last two Olympic titles and two of the last three World Championships. Germany defeated Egypt 35-34 for third place.

Korea Dominates World Archery Championships
As expected, South Korea topped the table at the World Archery Championships in Copenhagen, with nine medals (six gold) across the ten compound and recurve competitions. In the Olympic recurve class, 2011 World Champion Kim Woo-Jin won the men'd title and London 2012 champion Ki Bo-Hae won the women's. In perhaps the biggest upset, the Korean women failed to win gold, losing in the semis to Russia. They did secure the bronze, however, over Japan, while Russia defeated India for the gold.

Latvians Win European Beach Volleyball
I'm not sure why the European Beach Volleyball Championships are held after the Worlds, but there you go. And regardless, the Latvian team of Alexanders Samoilovs and Janis Smedins won the men's title, while the World runners-up from the Netherlands Reinder Nummerdor and Christiann Varenhorst finished third. Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst from Germany won the women's title after losing in the round of 32 at the Worlds.

World Aquatics Championships
The first week of the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan ended, with China dominating after their usual strength in diving. At the midway point, China leads the table with 20 medals to Russia's 12 in second, and the U.S. in third with six. Meanwhile, the swimming competition finally started this weekend with a bang, highlighted by the French victory in the men's 4x100 free relay that traditionally sets the tone for the week. Particularly notable in the final was the absence of the U.S, who failed to even make the final. News for Team USA wasn't much better in the women's race, finishing third after Australia and the Netherlands.

A Victory for Sporting Equal Rights?
In a step toward closure on a lingering and frustrating case for track and field - and all sport - the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that India's Dutee Chand does have the right and ability to compete in women's events, despite a naturally-occurring high ratio of male testosterone. In previous instances, the IAAF forced females in similar circumstances to undergo medical procedures to lower their natural testosterone. While Chand was encouraged as well to do so, she declined and now has won this latest stage. While the IAAf still has the opportunity to prove a substantial - and better - rationale to bar her, it is unlikely.