1991 in the sport of athletics

This article contains an overview of the year 1991 in athletics.

International Events

• All-Africa Games
• Asian Championships
• Central American and Caribbean Championships
• Mediterranean Games
• Pan American Games
• South American Championships
• World Championships
• World Cross Country Championships
• World Indoor Championships
• World Student Games

World records

Men

• The relay team of the United States in the men's 4 × 100 m, formed by Michael Marsh, Leroy Burrell, Floyd Heard and Carl Lewis, equal the current world record, set the previous year by France at the European Championships, clocking 37.79 on 1991-08-03 at a meet in Monaco. The first mark was set by Max Morinière, Daniel Sangouma, Jean-Charles Trouabal and Bruno Marie-Rose on 1990-09-01 in Split, Yugoslavia.

Women

Men's Best Year Performers

100 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres

200 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres

400 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 400 metres

800 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres

1,500 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres

Mile

3,000 metres

5,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 5,000 metres

10,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres

Half marathon

Marathon

Main race this year: World Championships Marathon

110m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 110m hurdles

400m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles

3,000m steeplechase

Main race this year: World Championships 3,000m steeplechase

High jump

Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump

Long jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump

Triple jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Triple Jump

Discus

Main competition this year: World Championships Discus Throw

Shot put

Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put

Hammer

Javelin (new design)

Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin Throw

Pole vault

Main competition this year: World Championships Pole Vault

Decathlon

Women's Best Year Performers

60 metres

100 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 100 metres

200 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 200 metres

400 metres

800 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 800 metres

1,500 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 1,500 metres

Mile

3,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 3,000 metres

5,000 metres

10,000 metres

Main race this year: World Championships 10,000 metres

Half marathon

Marathon

Main race this year: World Championships Marathon

60m hurdles

100m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 100m hurdles

400m hurdles

Main race this year: World Championships 400m hurdles

High Jump

Main competition this year: World Championships High Jump

Long Jump

Main competition this year: World Championships Long Jump

Triple Jump

Shot put

Main competition this year: World Championships Shot Put

Javelin (old design)

Main competition this year: World Championships Javelin

Heptathlon

Main competition this year: World Championships Heptathlon

Births

• January 15 — Darya Klishina, Russian long jumper
• February 8 — Genzebe Dibaba, Ethiopian middle- and long-distance runner
• February 22 — Rebecca Cheptegei, Ugandan distance runner (d. 2024)
• May 8 — Kalkidan Gezahegne, Ethiopian distance runner

Deaths

• January 1 — Inga Gentzel (82), Swedish athlete (b. 1908)
• August 10 — Ellen Braumüller (80), German athlete (b. 1910)

References

• Year Lists
• 1991 Year Rankings
• Association of Road Racing Statisticians