The 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held from August 23 to August 31, 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint Denis, Paris, France.

Results

100 m Men

Reigning World and Olympic Champion Maurice Greene was eliminated in the semi-finals, being out of shape all season, leaving the final without a clear favourite. The final was very close, with early leader Collins eventually edging out Brown, Campbell and Dwain Chambers, who all finished in 10,08.

The quarter-finals saw great controversy when American Jon Drummond refused to leave the track after being disqualified for a false start.

200 m Men

John Capel finished eight in the 2000 Olympic final when he thought there was a false start. He played American football for the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs, but wasn't very successful either. In Paris, he beat his friend Patton in a close finish.

400 m Men

Former Jamaican Young clearly beat compatriot and favourite Washington. Crowd favourite Raquil, who was in the back of the field with just 100 m to go raced to a bronze medal in the final metres. After the race, it was revealed that Young had tested positive for doping in 1999, but was let off by the United States Track and Field Association, allowing him to compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics, where he won a gold medal with the American 4 x 400 m relay team.

800 m Men

1500 m Men

World Record holder El Guerrouj took his fourth consecutive title in the event, holding of French challenger Baala with a high pace.

5000 m Men

10000 m Men

The race was totally dominated by the Ethiopians. 21-year-old four-time cross country World Champion Bekele showed he might become the next long-distance hero, beating Gebrselassie, a four-time winner of the event.

Marathon Men

110 m Hurdles Men

400 m Hurdles Men

2001 World Champion Sánchez was the man to beat in this final, and out-ran the rest of the field by almost a second. South-Africa's Llewellyn Herbert was in silver medal position, but fell on the final hurdle and came in last.

3000 m Steeple Chase Men

Kenyan runner Stephen Cherono became a Qatarese citizen just weeks before the World Championships, apparently for a good salary. He did not disappoint his new country, and won Qatar's first World Championship medal in an exciting duel with former compatriot Kemboi, whom he only beat in the final metres. Martín's medal was the first one won in the event by a European since 1993.

4 x 100 m Men

To be held.

4 x 400 m Men

To be held.

High Jump Men

Freitag, a 2.04 m tall 21-year-old, was one of the three jumpers to make 2.32. He was the only one to clear the next height, winning the gold in his first international final.

Pole Vault Men

Gibilisco, who had never placed better than 10th at a major tournament, upset the field with a new National Record of 5.90. Two of the pre-tournament favourites, Aleksandr Averbukh and Romain Mesnil , were already eliminated before the final, while defending World Champion Markov placed fourth in the final.

Long Jump Men

The winning mark in the long jump final, which did not include four-time World Champion Iván Pedroso and 2001 silver medallist Savanté Stringfellow (both eliminated in the qualification), was the shortest in the history of the event. The competition heated up in the 5th round, when the lead changed three times.

Triple Jump Men

World Record holder and double World Champion Jonathan Edwards announced his retirement after the Championships. He qualified for the final, but had to give up after two jumps due to an injury. The title was won by 2002 European Champion Olsson, who started triple jumping after seeing Edwards win the 1995 World Championship in Gothenburg.

Shot Put Men

Mikhnevich threw five of his six throws over 21 metre, and his winning mark was a new personal best. He had been suspended until August 6 after a doping offence in 2001. Triple World Champion John Godina made the final, but placed 9th after a foul throw - heavily disputed by Godina - meaning he couldn't get three more attempts.

Discus Throw Men

Five-time World Champion Lars Riedel of Germany was looking for a record-tying sixth title, but he placed fourth behind Alekna, the 2000 Olympic Champion.

Hammer Throw Men

Murofushi, who threw close to 85 m earlier in the season, was the red hot favourite prior to the event, but Tikhon was the class of the field, and won by a large margin.

Javelin Throw Men

...

20 km Walk Men

Pérez, the 1996 Olympic Champion overtook long-time leader Fernández in the final kilometres of the race to set a new World Best Mark (no World Records are recognised in this event) by a second. His gold medal was the first World Championship medal for Ecuador.

50 km Walk Men

Korzeniowski, one of the best race walkers in recent years, lead throughout the race, with competitors dropping off because of disqualification or because of the high pace. His final time was a new World Best Mark.

Decathlon Men

The surprising leader after the first day was Karpov, who had no previous international tournament experience. A weak pole vault meant Pappas overtook the lead to keep it until after the final event, holding off World Record Holder Roman Šebrle. Olympic Champion Erki Nool pulled out of the event due to an injury

Heptathlon, Women

Swedish Carolina Klüft won with big margin following a breaking of her personal best in four of the seven events and the totals. She was the third woman to score more than 7000 points.

References

• http://www.iaaf.org/WCH03/results/raceDate=08-23-2003/byDate.html

See also

Previous editions