World Athletics Indoor Championships
# World Athletics Indoor Championships

The World Athletics Indoor Championships are a biennial indoor track and field competition served as the global championship for that version of the sport. Organised by the World Athletics, the competition was inaugurated as the World Indoor Games in 1985 in Paris, France and were subsequently renamed to IAAF World Indoor Championships in 1987. The current name was adapted with the name change of the sports governing body in 2019.

They have been held every two years except for when they were held in consecutive years 2003 and 2004 to facilitate the need for them to be held in alternate years to the main World Athletics Championships (outdoors) in the future.

## Championships

| Edition | Year | City | Country | Date | Venue | Events | Nations | Athletes | Top of the medal table |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| – | 1985 | Paris | France | 18–19 January 1985 | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | 24 | 69 | 319 | East Germany |
| 1 | 1987 | Indianapolis | United States | 6–8 March 1987 | Hoosier Dome | 24 | 85 | 419 | Soviet Union |
| 2 | 1989 | Budapest | Hungary | 3–5 March 1989 | Budapest Sportcsarnok | 24 | 62 | 373 | Soviet Union |
| 3 | 1991 | Seville | Spain | 8–10 March 1991 | Palacio Municipal de Deportes San Pablo | 26 | 80 | 518 | Soviet Union |
| 4 | 1993 | Toronto | Canada | 12–14 March 1993 | SkyDome | 27 | 93 | 537 | Russia |
| 5 | 1995 | Barcelona | Spain | 10–12 March 1995 | Palau Sant Jordi | 27 | 131 | 594 | Russia |
| 6 | 1997 | Paris | France | 7–9 March 1997 | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | 28 | 118 | 712 | United States |
| 7 | 1999 | Maebashi | Japan | 5–7 March 1999 | Green Dome Maebashi | 28 | 115 | 451 | United States |
| 8 | 2001 | Lisbon | Portugal | 9–11 March 2001 | Pavilhão Atlântico | 28 | 136 | 510 | United States |
| 9 | 2003 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | 14–16 March 2003 | National Indoor Arena | 28 | 131 | 583 | United States |
| 10 | 2004 | Budapest | Hungary | 5–7 March 2004 | Budapest Sports Arena | 28 | 139 | 677 | Russia |
| 11 | 2006 | Moscow | Russia | 10–12 March 2006 | Olimpiysky Stadium | 26 | 129 | 562 | United States |
| 12 | 2008 | Valencia | Spain | 7–9 March 2008 | Luis Puig Palace | 26 | 147 | 574 | United States |
| 13 | 2010 | Doha | Qatar | 12–14 March 2010 | Aspire Dome | 26 | 146 | 585 | United States |
| 14 | 2012 | Istanbul | Turkey | 9–11 March 2012 | Ataköy Athletics Arena | 26 | 171 | 629 | United States |
| 15 | 2014 | Sopot | Poland | 7–9 March 2014 | Ergo Arena | 26 | 134 | 538 | United States |
| 16 | 2016 | Portland | United States | 17–20 March 2016 | Oregon Convention Center | 26 | 137 | 487 | United States |
| 17 | 2018 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | 1–4 March 2018 | National Indoor Arena | 26 | 134 | 554 | United States |
| | 2020 | Nanjing | China | 13–15 March 2020 | Nanjing's Cube | | | | |
| 18 | 2022 | Belgrade | Serbia | 18–20 March 2022 | Belgrade Arena | 26 | 128 | 611 | Ethiopia |
| | 2023 | Nanjing | China | 17–19 March 2023 | Nanjing's Cube | | | | |
| 19 | 2024 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | 1–3 March 2024 | Emirates Arena | | | | |
| 20 | 2025 | Nanjing | China | 21–23 March 2025 | Nanjing's Cube | | | | |
| 21 | 2026 | Toruń | Poland | 20–22 March 2026 | Arena Toruń | | | |

## Events

The events held have remained more or less the same since they originated, with the main alterations coming in the earlier years.

The 4 x 400 m relay race for both men and women was added to the full schedule in 1991 with the women's triple jump, the latter as an exhibition event, and gaining full status at the following championships.

Racewalking events were dropped after 1993, and a 1600 m medley relay was tried but was discontinued were due to poor interest. This same year, a men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon were successfully introduced as non-championship events, and have remained on the program since.

In 1997 the women's pole vault entered the fray, two years before it made an appearance at the event's outdoor counterpart.

Despite the event's popularity, the 200 m was removed from the program after the 2004 championships, as the event was deemed unfair and too predictable, with the tight bends involved in the race meaning any athletes not drawn in either of the outside lanes had minimal or no chance of winning.

## Outstanding achievements

### Seven gold medals

Mozambique's Maria de Lurdes Mutola won seven gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the women's 800 m from 1993 to 2008.

Natalya Nazarova has won seven gold and one silver medal from 1999 to 2008 in the 400 m and 4 × 400 m relay.

### Five gold medals

Cuban Iván Pedroso won five straight golds in the men's long jump from 1993 to 2001. Stefka Kostadinova of Bulgaria won five gold medals in the women's high jump. Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia won 2 gold medals in the women's 1,500m and 3 gold medals in the 3,000m from 2012 to 2018

### Four gold medals

* Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia won three golds in the 3,000 m and one in the 1,500 m.
* Sergey Bubka won four pole vault gold medals (three while competing for the Soviet Union and one for Ukraine).
* Cuban Javier Sotomayor won four gold and one bronze medal in the men's high jump.
* Stefan Holm of Sweden has won four gold medals in the men's high jump.
* Meseret Defar of Ethiopia has won four gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the women's 3,000 m.
* Mikhail Shchennikov of Russia has won four gold medals in the 5000 m walk.
* Gail Devers of the United States has won 3 golds at 60m and 1 gold and 1 silver at 60m hurdles
* Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia has won 4 golds and 1 silver at pole vault
* Valerie Adams of New Zealand has won 4 golds and 1 bronze at shot put

## Championship records

Key to tables:  Disqualified

X = annulled due to doping violation

### Men

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 60 m | 6.37 | Christian Coleman | United States | 3 March 2018 | 2018 Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| 400 m | 45.00 | Jereem Richards | Trinidad and Tobago | 19 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 800 m | 1:42.67 | Wilson Kipketer | Denmark | 9 March 1997 | 1997 Championships | Paris, France |
| 1500 m | 3:32.77 | Samuel Tefera | Ethiopia | 20 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 3000 m | 7:34.71 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 9 March 1997 | 1997 Championships | Paris, France |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.29 | Grant Holloway | United States | 20 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| High jump | 2.43 m | Javier Sotomayor | Cuba | 4 March 1989 | 1989 Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| Pole vault | 6.20 m | Armand Duplantis | Sweden | 20 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Long jump | 8.62 m | Iván Pedroso | Cuba | 7 March 1999 | 1999 Championships | Maebashi, Japan |
| Triple jump | 17.90 m | Teddy Tamgho | France | 14 March 2010 | 2010 Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| Shot put | 22.53 m | Darlan Romani | Brazil | 19 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Heptathlon | 6645 pts | Ashton Eaton | United States | 9–10 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Heptathlon | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) | 6.79 (60 m), 8.16 m (long jump), 14.56 m (shot put), 2.03 m (high jump) / 7.68 (60 m hurdles), 5.20 m (pole vault), 2:32.77 (1000 m) |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.77 | Karol Zalewski Rafał Omelko Łukasz Krawczuk Jakub Krzewina | Poland | 4 March 2018 | 2018 Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom |

### Women

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 60 m | 6.95 | Gail Devers | United States | 12 March 1993 | 1993 Championships | Toronto, Canada |
| 400 m | 50.04 | Olesya Forsheva | Russia | 12 March 2006 | 2006 Championships | Moscow, Russia |
| 800 m | 1:56.90 | Ludmila Formanová | Czech Republic | 7 March 1999 | 1999 Championships | Maebashi, Japan |
| 1500 m | 3:57.19 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia | 19 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 3000 m | 8:33.82 | Elly van Hulst | Netherlands | 4 March 1989 | 1989 Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.70 | Kendra Harrison | United States | 3 March 2018 | 2018 Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| High jump | 2.05 m | Stefka Kostadinova | Bulgaria | 8 March 1987 | 1987 Championships | Indianapolis, United States |
| Pole vault | 4.95 m | Sandi Morris | United States | 3 March 2018 | 2018 Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Long jump | 7.23 m | Brittney Reese | United States | 11 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Triple jump | 15.74 m | Yulimar Rojas | Venezuela | 20 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Shot put | 20.67 m | Valerie Adams | New Zealand | 8 March 2014 | 2014 Championships | Sopot, Poland |
| Shot put | 20.85 m X | Nadzeya Ostapchuk | Belarus | 14 March 2010 | 2010 Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| Pentathlon | 5013 pts | Nataliya Dobrynska | Ukraine | 9 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Pentathlon | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) | 8.38 (60 m hurdles), 1.84 m (high jump), 16.51 m (shot put), 6.57 m (long jump), 2:11.15 (800 m) |
| 4 × 400 m relay | 3:23.85 | Quanera Hayes Georganne Moline Shakima Wimbley Courtney Okolo | United States | 4 March 2018 | 2018 Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom |

### Heptathlon disciplines

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 60 m | 6.61 | Chris Huffins | United States | 8 March 1997 | 1997 Championships | Paris, France |
| Long jump | 8.16 m | Ashton Eaton | United States | 9 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Shot put | 17.17 m | Aleksey Drozdov | Russia | 12 March 2010 | 2010 Championships | Doha, Qatar |
| High jump | 2.21 m | Andrei Krauchanka | Belarus | 7 March 2014 | 2014 Championships | Sopot, Poland |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.61 | Damian Warner | Canada | 19 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Pole vault | 5.50 m | Erki Nool | Estonia | 7 March 1999 | 1999 Championships | Maebashi, Japan |
| 1000 m | 2:29.04 | Curtis Beach | United States | 19 March 2016 | 2016 Championships | Portland, United States |

### Pentathlon disciplines

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 60 m hurdles | 7.91 | Jessica Ennis | Great Britain | 9 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |
| High jump | 1.99 m | Tia Hellebaut | Belgium | 7 March 2008 | 2008 Championships | Valencia, Spain |
| Shot put | 17.18 m | Nataliya Dobrynska | Ukraine | 7 March 2008 | 2008 Championships | Valencia, Spain |
| Long jump | 6.69 m | Natalya Sazanovich | Belarus | 9 March 2001 | 2001 Championships | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Long jump | 6.69 m | Kendell Williams | United States | 18 March 2022 | 2022 Championships | Belgrade, Serbia |
| 800 m | 2:08.09 | Jessica Ennis | Great Britain | 9 March 2012 | 2012 Championships | Istanbul, Turkey |

## Records in defunct events

### Men's events

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 200 m | 20.10 | Frank Fredericks | Namibia | 6 March 1999 | 1999 Championships | Maebashi, Japan |
| 5000 m walk | 18:23.55 | Mikhail Shchennikov | Soviet Union | 10 March 1991 | 1991 Championships | Seville, Spain |
| 1600m medley relay (non-championship event) | 3:15.10 | Mark Everett James Trapp Kevin Little Butch Reynolds | United States | 14 March 1993 | 1993 Championships | Toronto, Canada |

### Women's events

| Event | Record | Athlete | Nation | Date | Championships | Place |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 200 m | 22.15 | Irina Privalova | Russia | 14 March 1993 | 1993 Championships | Toronto, Canada |
| 3000 m walk | 11:49.73 | Yelena Nikolayeva | Russia | 13 March 1993 | 1993 Championships | Toronto, Canada |
| 1600m medley relay (non-championship event) | 3:45.90 | Joetta Clark Wendy Vereen Kim Batten Jearl Miles | United States | 14 March 1993 | 1993 Championships | Toronto, Canada |

## All-time medal table

Medal table includes 1985–2022 Championships.

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | United States | 113 | 82 | 73 | 268 |
| 2 | Russia | 52 | 48 | 45 | 145 |
| 3 | Ethiopia | 31 | 13 | 15 | 59 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 20 | 34 | 33 | 87 |
| 5 | Soviet Union | 19 | 17 | 17 | 53 |
| 6 | Jamaica | 18 | 23 | 13 | 54 |
| 7 | Cuba | 18 | 16 | 17 | 51 |
| 8 | France | 16 | 13 | 21 | 50 |
| 9 | Germany | 14 | 22 | 21 | 57 |
| 10 | Sweden | 12 | 9 | 9 | 30 |
| 11 | East Germany | 12 | 7 | 5 | 24 |
| 12 | Kenya | 10 | 15 | 16 | 41 |
| 13 | Ukraine | 10 | 15 | 11 | 36 |
| 14 | Romania | 9 | 10 | 9 | 28 |
| 15 | Bulgaria | 9 | 5 | 7 | 21 |
| 16 | Canada | 9 | 4 | 15 | 28 |
| 17 | Czech Republic | 8 | 8 | 11 | 27 |
| 18 | Australia | 7 | 10 | 6 | 23 |
| 19 | Italy | 7 | 6 | 13 | 26 |
| 20 | Morocco | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| 21 | Mozambique | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 22 | Netherlands | 6 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
| 23 | Greece | 6 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
| 24 | Ireland | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 25 | Poland | 5 | 12 | 18 | 35 |
| 26 | Brazil | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 |
| 27 | Portugal | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| 28 | New Zealand | 5 | 1 | 6 | 12 |
| 29 | Bahamas | 4 | 8 | 10 | 22 |
| 30 | Spain | 3 | 21 | 15 | 39 |
| 31 | Belarus | 3 | 12 | 8 | 23 |
| 32 | China | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
| 33 | Kazakhstan | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 34 | Belgium | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 35 | South Africa | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 36 | Switzerland | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| 37 | Venezuela | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 38 | Nigeria | 2 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| 39 | Czechoslovakia | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| 40 | Hungary | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 40 | West Germany | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 42 | Burundi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 43 | Croatia | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 44 | Serbia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 44 | Sudan | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| – | Authorised Neutral Athletes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 46 | Grenada | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 47 | Qatar | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 48 | Denmark | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 49 | Ivory Coast | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 50 | Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 51 | Bahrain | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 52 | Norway | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 53 | Bermuda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 54 | Ghana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 54 | Namibia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 56 | Algeria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 57 | Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 57 | Djibouti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 57 | Finland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 57 | South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 61 | Austria | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 62 | Slovenia | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 63 | Estonia | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 63 | Iceland | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 65 | Cameroon | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 65 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 67 | Barbados | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 67 | Latvia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 69 | Botswana | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69 | Cayman Islands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69 | Panama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69 | Turkey | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 69 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 74 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 75 | Lithuania | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 75 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 75 | Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 78 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | British Virgin Islands | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Chile | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Cyprus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | DR Congo | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Dominican Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Senegal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Suriname | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 78 | Uganda | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (87 entries) | Totals (87 entries) | 508 | 520 | 525 | 1553 |

### Notes

^[1] ANA was the name, under which Russian athletes competed in the 2018 Championships. Their medals were not included in the official medal table.

## All-time placing table

In the IAAF placing table the total score is obtained from assigning eight points to the first place and so on to one point for the eight place. Points are shared in situations where a tie occurs.

Updated after 2016 Championships

| Rank | Country | | | | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Medals | Points |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | United States | 108 | 66+1= | 62+2= | 62+1= | 43+2= | 41+3= | 28+1= | 32+1= | 239 | 2429.5 |
| 2 | Russia | 50+1= | 42+3= | 37+1= | 25+1= | 35 | 29+1= | 20+1= | 10 | 134 | 1358 |
| 3 | Germany | 28 | 28 | 28+2= | 27+1= | 30+1= | 21+2= | 19 | 20+3 | 86 | 989 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 16 | 30+1= | 22+1= | 20+1= | 23+1= | 20+3= | 15 | 9+1 | 70 | 788.5 |
| 5 | Cuba | 16 | 17 | 13+2= | 12 | 19+2= | 10 | 13+1= | 7 | 48 | 543 |
| 6 | France | 12 | 11 | 18+1 | 16+1= | 14+1= | 20+2= | 13 | 15 | 42 | 536.5 |
| 7 | Jamaica | 16 | 20 | 10+1= | 13+1= | 18 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 523 |
| 8 | Soviet Union | 21 | 17 | 15+1= | 16 | 7 | 5+1= | 4 | 3 | 54 | 519 |
| 9 | Spain | 2 | 21 | 13 | 14+1= | 15+2= | 18 | 13+1= | 11+1= | 36 | 475.5 |
| 10 | Poland | 2+1= | 10 | 13+2= | 21+1= | 8+2= | 18+3= | 6 | 8 | 28 | 412 |
