First and foremost, as at all IAAF World Championships, was the competition. 2008 athletes from 202 nations contested 47 events, and in many of them achieved performances which were the year’s – and in some cases, history’s – finest. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt was the outstanding athlete of Berlin 2009, of course, establishing new World Records at 100 and 200m that smashed all previous ideas about the limits of human performance. Bolt is not simply the best sprinter of his generation. He is an anomaly, unlike anyone the sport has seen before, and his achievements in Berlin have ensured his status as a legend. But if there were no Bolt, and the other sprinters in his races had performed as they did here, we would still have seen a great time (by Tyson Gay) in the 100m and one of the finest 200m races of all time – such was the quality of this meeting’s sprint fields.

The elevated standards were also evident in the women’s sprints, where we saw top performances in all three events (even considering the adverse conditions during the 200m), and the men’s distance races. No previous IAAF World Championships has witnessed the depth of high quality performances that occurred in the men’s steeplechase, 10,000m and marathon. Kenenisa Bekele has by now acquired legendary status as a man who simply cannot be defeated at 10,000m, regardless of the tactics used to confront him, and he continues to add to an incredible record of victories at the highest level of competition. And what can one say about the performances of Jamaica’s women in the sprints and hurdles? They won seven of the available 15 individual medals, clearly dominating their much larger neighbour to the north, and the rest of the world.

Drama was present in most of the field event finals, although the overall statistical standard of performance in these disciplines was not as high as on the track – with the notable exception of the greatest women’s hammer throw competition in history, won by Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk with a new World Record. But anyone fortunate to see these events, including the heptathlon and decathlon, had to be thrilled by the repeated personal best efforts and come-from-behind performances. The men’s and women’s high jump, shot put and discus throw come immediately to mind.

There were other factors in play that helped to make berlin 2009™ one of the most exceptional of the 12th IAAF World Championships. Olympiastadion proved to be a superb venue, praised by both athletes and observers. The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, to a much greater degree than we have seen at recent Championships, and athletes from all nations were supported and encouraged (Where else would the assembled spectators sing “Happy Birthday” to an athlete from another country during his victory ceremony?). This atmosphere was also present during the walks and marathons, where thousands lined the streets of Berlin to applaud and inspire the competitors. This had a positive effect on everyone, not least the German athletes, who frequently exceeded expectations. The weather also cooperated: except for one evening’s deluge, Berlin enjoyed the finest weather for a Championships for many years.

A new star was born on the blue running track: Berlino. The macot was everywhere present and implemented the slogan HAVE A GOOD TIME!™. The people will keep him always in their mind as well as they do athletics stars such as Bolt, Vlašic, Nerius and other.

Barbados, Eritrea, Slovenia, and Puerto Rico are a few of the small nations that are tasting success for the first time, a healthy sign for the future of the sport. Another positive indicator is the number of new names that have appeared, and thrived, on a stage of this magnitude. Usain Bolt was one of those new names only two years ago. If he retired today, his records would stand for many years. But he is not going to retire, and Daegu 2011 is only 24 months away...

Good bye, Berlin, and thank you!

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