How a Record Number of Teams Clinched Medals in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan — September 24, 2025

At the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, a historic 53 nations earned medals—setting a new record for the most countries on the podium at any edition of the event. 

The Latest

• Over nine days of competition (13–21 September), athletics saw a flurry of standout performances, with participants from around the world contributing to deeper competition across events. 

• The previous high of 46 medal-winning countries, first set in Osaka 2007 and matched in Budapest 2023, was surpassed as smaller nations such as Samoa, Saint Lucia and Uruguay claimed their first ever World Championships medals. 

• Several records fell: one world record, nine championship records, and nine area records were either matched or broken during the event. 

Why This Matters

Greater Global Reach & Inclusivity

The widening medal distribution suggests athletics is becoming more globally competitive, not just dominated by traditional powerhouses. More nations are now breaking through to medal status—signaling investment, talent development, or breakthrough performances from less represented countries.

Depth of Competition

Events are becoming more contested: margins are tighter and surprises more frequent. That fosters more excitement and compels elite athletes to raise their standards across heats, semis and finals.

Inspiration & Legacy

For the newly medalling nations, this serves as a symbolic milestone—proof that with investment and resolve, they too can stand on the world stage. It can spur further development of athletics in those countries.

Kenya’s Role in the Record

• Kenya put on a commanding display: 11 medals in total—7 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze—earning second place on the medal table behind the United States. 

• Among the highlights:

  • Beatrice Chebet achieved a distance double (5,000m & 10,000m). 

  • Lilian Odira won gold in the women’s 800m, making history with a championship record. 

  • Emmanuel Wanyonyi took the men’s 800m title, further solidifying Kenya’s strength in middle distances. 

  • Faith Kipyegon, as a veteran champion, added to Kenya’s gold haul in the women’s 1,500m. 

Kenya’s performance reinforced its reputation as one of the world’s top nations in athletics, especially in middle- and long-distance events.

What Drove the Surge in Medalling Countries

• Performance breakthroughs in smaller nations: Athletes from Samoa, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, and others seized their historic moments. 

• Widening access to training & resources: As more countries invest in coaching, infrastructure, and athlete development, competitive barriers shrink.

• Tactical event scheduling & depth: More rounds, better scouting, and strategic planning help emerging nations position athletes to peak at the right times.

• Globalisation of sport science and data analytics: Tools once limited to elite federations are becoming more accessible, levelling the playing field.

What We Don’t Know (Yet)

• Which countries exactly had their first-ever medals, apart from those already named.

• The full breakdown of how many events had medal winners from “new” countries versus repeat medallists.

• How much of this shift reflects one-off performances versus structural investments in those federations.

• To what extent this broadened distribution will persist in future editions.