Athletics fans across the globe had the chance to watch some thrilling action at the 2022 World Championships that ended on Sunday, July 24, in Oregon, United States.
Countries like Kazakhstan bagged their first world titles at the championships while others will have to wait for a little longer. Some athletes registered their personal bests with others smashing world records.
TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at various world records that were shattered at the just concluded global athletic event.
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Tobi Amusan
The Nigerian international is, without a doubt, the athlete of the championship. Amusan broke the 100m hurdles women’s record twice in a single day. She broke the record at the semifinals, crossing the finishing line in 12.12 seconds, shelving more than 0.9 seconds from the previous mark set by United States international Ken Harrison back in 2016.
When people were in the process of coming to terms with her electrifying performance, the multiple African champion had other plans. A few hours after setting the new world record, Amusan went on to shatter her own record.
She produced one of the greatest performances ever witnessed in athletics history to win the race in 12.06 seconds.
Speaking after the final, the 2019 All African Games gold medalist credited God for the breathtaking performance.
“It’s been long overdue, God just said this is my time, and he showed up. I just wanted to stay as calm as I can and execute and I just did that,” stated Amusan.
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Armand Duplantis
Pole Vaulter Armand Duplantis is another athlete who broke a world record in Oregon. The Swedish international broke the previous world record of 6.20m he set during the indoor championships held in Belgrade in March when he crossed the 6.21m mark in Eugene.
This is the third time the Olympic Champion has broken the pole vault record in 2022. The silver and bronze medals went to United States' Chris Nilsen and Ernest Obiena of the Philippines.
Sydney McLaughlin
Apart from topping the medal standings, Americans had something else to smile about in Oregon. One of their own, Sydney McLaughlin set a novel world record in 400m hurdles.
The 24-year-old became the first woman to run the event in under 51 seconds when she crossed the finishing line in 50.68 seconds in the process breaking the world record of 51.41 seconds she set during the United States championships staged in Eugene on June 25.
Her compatriot Dalilah Muhammad who is a former world record holder clocked 53.13 seconds to clinch bronze, while the silver medal went to Dutch international Femke Bol who crossed the finishing line in 52.27 seconds.
Each athlete who broke a World Record in Oregon was awarded a whopping 100,000 US Dollars (Approximately Ksh11,867,000) by the championship organizers.
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