5 Things We Learned From 2023 World Athletics Championships

After nine days of relentless battles on the track and field, the 2023 World Athletics Championships is over. 2100 athletes from 195 countries battled for medals in one of the best events of all time.

On Sunday evening, the competition ended with the women's 4x400 relay. It was almost poetic, to say the least.

Netherlands star, Femke Bol, fell in the last few meters of the mixed 4x100 on day 1 but produced an iconic finish to stun Jamaica in the women's 4x100 relay to win. It was a perfect end to the tournament for the 400m hurdles world champion.

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The highlight of the tournament was Jamaica battling the USA in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100 relay for both the men's and women's classes. It delivered. Here are 5 things we learned at the tournament

5 things we learned from Budapest

USA, the kings and queens of sprint

The USA and Jamaica have dominated the short races for the last few years. However, on the men's side, the USA are firmly in the driving seat. They won the 100m, 200m, men's and women's 4x100 relay, men's 110m hurdles, the men's 4x400 relay, and the mixed 4x400 relay. Jamaica had a great event, but it is clear Budapest was a changing-of-guard showpiece. Since Usain Bolt retired, Jamaica's dominance in the short races is over, at least for the men.

Shericka Jackson won gold in the women's 200m, Antonio Watson won the men's 400m, and Danielle Williams won the women's 110m hurdles. Eight of the USA's 12 gold medals came from the short races, per NBC Sports.

Faith Kipyegon saves Kenya

It seems like the rest of the world is catching up with Kenya in the middle and long-distance races, events that the East African country has dominated for decades. Or maybe their best athletes are not competing. They won three gold medals, two of them from Kipyegon, who won the women's 1500m and 5000. Mary Moraa beat Olympic and world champion Athing Mu to win gold in the women's 800m.

It was an underwhelming performance from the Kenyan men's team, but Kipyegon was not to be denied in Budapest.

Crouser, Holloway, Duplantis and Rojas are unstoppable

USA's Ryan Crouser won the shot put gold despite having blood clots in his leg, per World Athletics. He retained the title he won in Oregon last year. Crouser will be looking to win three straight Olympic titles in pairs next year.

Grant Holloway successfully defended his 110m hurdles world title he won in Doha in 2019 and Oregon in 2022. He defeated Olympic champion Hansle Parchment.

Mondo Duplantis made it look easy in the men's pole vault. The Olympic champion took the gold medal with 6.10m, defending the title he won in Oregon last year.

Yulimar Rojas looked like she would lose her women's triple jump title in Budapest, but the Venezuelan produced a last-gasp leap to defend her title. She has now won the world title four times in a row.

Shericka Jackson could break 200m WR

The Jamaican narrowly lost the women's 100m title to American Sha'Carri Richardson, but she was a different class in the 200m. She destroyed the field, including Richardson, to win gold in 21.41 seconds, the second-fastest time ever. She defended the title she won last year in Oregon and is edging closer to Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 21.34 world record from the 1988 Olympics.

The Diamond League circuit returns this week, and it is highly likely she will break the record at some point next month when the athletics season comes to a close.

Spain rule race walk

Spain won five medals in Budapest, four of them being gold. All four were won by racewalkers Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez.

Spain’s Maria Perez won the women's 35km and the 20km race walk. Alvaro Martin also won the men's 20km race walk on the opening day and the men’s 35km title.

It was a historic moment for the Spaniards in Budapest. They finished third in the medals table.

Final medal table

Sports Brief earlier reported on the final medal table after the conclusion of the 2023 World Athletics Championships.

USA finished top with 29 medals, 12 gold, 8 silver and 9 bronze medals. Spain was the top country in Europe with five medals, giving them fourth spot. Their four gold medals were won by race walkers Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez.

Kenya was the top country in Africa with 10 medals, 3 gold, three silver and four bronze.