IAAF World Championships in Athletics the desire of many IAAF members to have their own World Championships began to grow. In 1976 at the IAAF Council Meeting in Puerto Rico an Athletics World Championships separate from the Olympic Games was approved. Following bids from both Stuttgart, West Germany and Helsinki, Finland, the IAAF Council awarded the inaugural competition to Helsinki, to take place in 1983 and be held in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium (where the 1952 Summer Olympics had been held). Two IAAF world championship events preceded the inaugural edition of the World Championships in Athletics in 1983. The 1976 World Championships had just one
United States at the World Championships in Athletics 350 medals across events. Americans have featured in the final at some point of every discipline contested at the championships. This table shows the best place finish by an American athlete by event. Where the best position has been achieved multiple times, the first instance is shown. United States at the World Championships in Athletics The United States has competed at every edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics since its inception in 1983. It has been the most successful nation at the global competition for track and field. By the end of the 2017 World Championships in Athletics