EUGENE, Ore. — The first World Athletics Championships held in the U.S. hit the finish line strong Sunday.
Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field, said he is assembling a strategic plan to grow the sport ahead of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
“There’s a huge awareness because of the world championships,” Siegel said.
The U.S. won 33 medals, breaking the record of 31 set by East Germany in 1987 in Rome. Team USA’s 13 gold medals were just one of the world championships record. Americans totaled more medals than the next three countries combined: Ethiopia, Jamaica and Kenya, with 10 each.
“It has been a great championship overall for the Team USA,” said Michael Norman, a gold medalist in the men’s 400 and 4x400 relay. “Especially on the men’s side after some disappointing championships, it was like a turnaround. I think there is a huge potential of the whole team for the growth.
“The time is coming in,” he added. “Maybe the next 4-5-6 years, it is going to be an amazing time for the Team USA. I definitely felt the energy today.”
Check out 10 of Team USA's top moments from the World Athletics Championships:
Sydney McLaughlin celebrates after winning gold and setting a new world record in the women's 400-meter hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin of Dunellen, New Jersey, lowered her world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles for the fourth time in 13 months during the meet. Her time of 50.68 seconds in the hurdles sliced .73 off the record she set in last month’s USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. According to World Athletics scoring tables, that is worth 1,312 points — nearly equivalent to the 1,314 by Florence Griffith Joyner for the latter’s worldly 10.49-second run in the 100 meters in 1988.
The 22-year-old McLaughlin has been so dominant, in fact, she suggested she might turn her attention to the flat 400 meters.
“I am just really happy that we got this opportunity here in front of this amazing crowd,” she said.
(L-R) Marvin Bracy-Williams, Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell pose during the medal ceremony of the men's 100-meter final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 17, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
The U.S. swept both the men’s 100 and 200 for the first time since the Olympic Games St. Louis 1904.
Noah Lyles celebrates winning gold during the men's 200-meter final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 21, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Olympic bronze medalist Noah Lyles’ time of 19.31 seconds was an American record and made him No. 3 all-time at 200 meters. Erriyon Knighton, 18, captured a bronze medal in the 200 and became the youngest individual men’s medalist at a world championship. Erriyon Knighton, 18, captured a bronze medal in the 200 and became the youngest individual men’s medalist at a world championship.
Athing Mu celebrates winning gold in the women's 800-meter final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Athing Mu won the women’s 800 meters in a first for the U.S. with a time of 1:56.
Chase Ealey celebrates during the medal ceremony of the women's shot put finals at the Women’s 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 16, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Chase Ealey won the U.S.' first gold medal in women’s shot put.
(L-R) Joe Kovacs, Ryan Crouser and Josh Awotunde pose for a photo during the medal ceremony of the men's shot put final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 17, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Oregon native Ryan Crouser led a U.S. sweep in the men’s shot put. Joe Kovacs and Josh Awotunde completed the podium for the U.S. men.
Kara Winger competes during the women's javelin finals at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 22, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
American women medaled in every throwing event for the first time. Kara Winger (javelin, silver) and Valarie Allman (discus, bronze) were the first U.S. women to win medals in their respective events. Janee Kassanavoid (hammer throw) became the first Native American woman to medal in the world championships.
Anna Hall reacts after competing in the women's heptathlon 200-meter heats at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 17, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
In the multi-event competitions, Anna Hall and Zach Ziemek each took bronze medals, respectively, in the heptathlon and decathlon. Hall’s medal was the first for a U.S. woman since 2001, while Ziemek was the first American man to reach the podium at a global championship since 2016.
Team USA celebrates winning the World Team Trophy at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
The U.S. won the meet’s inaugural team trophy with a record 328 points (scoring through eight places).
(L-R) Allyson Felix with her daughter Camryn after winning bronze in the 4x400-meter mixed relay final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships on July 15, 2022 in Eugene, Ore.
Finally, Allyson Felix. The five-time Olympian won two relay medals to increase her record total to 20 medals at the world championships, and 31 Olympic and world championships combined.
David Woods #
David Woods, a native of Urbana, Illinois, has been covering Olympic sports since 1972 and is the only four-time winner of the Jesse Abramson Award, presented by Track and Field Writers of America for journalism. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.